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Home Solar Electric System

Solar power is converted energy from sunlight into electricity and this form of power has become widely used in many parts of the world such as in Hongkong, America and other countries. Solar electricity is cheaper than other types of electricity making its popularity grow tremendously.

Apart from being inexpensive, solar power is a low-carbon technology making it attractive to those who are going green and trying to reduce harmful carbon emissions that are continuously depleting our ozone layer.

By harnessing the sun’s renewable energy, solar power is generated at a fraction of the cost of producing other types of electric power and is also safe for the environment. You can use solar power in your home and enjoy the benefits of this form of electric power. This is how to install and maintain a home solar electric system.

Installation of a solar panel on your roof is not an easy venture. There are a few things to consider even before you can buy the materials needed and begin the installation process. It is important to find out if your roof as it is currently can support the weight of the solar panels. Solar panels are large and need ample space and enough support. If not well researched your roof may cave in due to the panels.

Make sure your roof is in good shape and make any necessary repairs before installing any solar panels. Once the array is installed, any repairs that need to be done on your roof will force you to disconnect the solar panels and this will cost you quite a bit of money to put them up again after the roof renovations. It is better to carry out any roof maintenance or repair jobs beforehand to save you any future hassle.

It is also wise to make sure that your roof has access to sunlight. If your roof is being obstructed from the sun by something else consider whether this obstruction can be removed or not, in order to take full advantage of the solar power ensure your panels can absorb as much sun rays as possible.

Before installing panels make sure that you are aware of the amount of electricity you use. This will help you decide how many panels you actually need. It will be unfortunate and will probably cost you more if you over install or under install solar panels.

Most importantly ensure that the installer you contracted for the job is licensed, certified and trustworthy. Ask them for referrals to any other installations they have done and take time to visit that home and see the quality of their work. You can also call the home owner and ask them their experience. For such a grand venture it is better to be safe than sorry. Do not risk having installations done by an unverified installer. It will cost you more in the end to fix a botched solar installation job.

Before the installation you should get a tutorial to show you how to operate your solar system. It is important to familiarize yourself with the system in order to prevent any damage caused by ignorance. Remember that problems with your solar electric system are entirely yours to handle unlike with other power sources.

This means that you can either fix any issue that arises with the system or you can pay for your installer to examine and make an attempt at repairing the system. If the system fails for any reason and cannot produce electricity you will have to replace it with another system and pay for installing a new solar electric system.

However, maintaining a solar panel is relatively easy as it does not have many moving parts.

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Reasons Why Solar Power Is The Fastest Growing Source Of Energy

Solar power is the single fastest-growing source of energy for a variety of reasons. It took over as the fastest source of global energy in 2017 and it shows no signs of slowing down. Below, we will be going over some of the reasons why it is the fastest growing source of energy.

Reasons Why Solar Power Is The Fastest Growing Source Of Energy:

1. China.

One of the main driving forces for solar energy is the adopting rate in China. Because China is making a concerted effort to introduce more renewable energy sources, they are driving the global sales of solar power and solar energy as a whole. Because China has so much growth potential, it is the main driver behind solar growth as an industry.

2. India.

Another reason why it is growing so fast is that India is also adopting at a high rate. While not as fast as China, it is still being adopted quickly and being invested in at a very high rate.

3. The USA.

The US continues to put in policies which encourage the adopting of renewable energy sources for both homeowners and businesses alike. Because of this, it continues its upward trend of adoption and it quickly becoming mainstream for homeowners.

4. Greater Affordability.

Another reason why it is quickly taking over as the leader is that its price has dropped considerably and a new viable option of solar finance has become prominent. Previously, it required a major commitment and investment in the technology. As the supply increases and technology decreases in price, solar technology is becoming much more affordable for the masses. Given its affordability levels at this point in the lifecycle, it is only expected to be adopted at a much higher rate across the world. The problem with a new technology is the price is typically way too high to reach a mainstream audience.

Because of this, early adopters end up paying significantly higher prices as a direct result. A lot of people and corporations held off on solar energy because the return on investment was simply not worth it because of the long payback period. Nowadays, the payback period is shortened which makes it a much easier thing to invest in because you know you are going to be able to experience a positive return on your investment over the short term rather than having to wait a long time to see any sort of returns on your investment.

5. Support From The Government.

Another reason why the growth has been so tremendous is that of the various Governments across the globe and their inclination to put in incentives for adopting the technology. As more incentives are put in place for both homeowners and corporations, it is driving the adoption of the technology at a high rate. After all, it is making it even cheaper and affordable to invest in due to tax benefits and more. This support from the Government is crucial for the adoption rate of the technology and it has only helped boost its appeal.

Overall, there are a lot of driving forces for solar technology. Solar energy has surpassed the other sources of power primarily because it has become such an affordable option for those that are looking to invest in renewable energy sources because of both decreasing prices throughout the industry and because of the various Governments across the globe driving the sales of this technology with tax incentives and more. It is the future of power and it will continue to grow at an alarming rate due to the most populated countries investing heavily in the technology including China, India, and the US.

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What Are Solar Panels Actually Made Of?

If you are searching for a solar panel installation company, you might wonder about your choices. There are several different types of solar panels that are available today. It is good to know what these products are made of. By understanding this, you can make the right choice when selecting solar panels that will be installed that your home or place of business. Let’s discuss what they are made of, and the many choices that you do have available once you decide to install solar panels, or a solar panel array, to generate electricity from the sun.

What Are Solar Panels Made Of?

All solar panels today are made of a material called crystalline silicon. You have probably heard of the word silicon before. It is the same material from which circuit boards are made of. This is because it is a very efficient semi conductor material. When electricity is generated with solar panels, it is because of the effect that sunlight has on the crystals themselves. Electrons are excited within the silicon cells because of the sunlight, causing the electricity to flow.

Different Types Of Solar Powered Photovoltaic Panels

There are two main types of solar panels that are created today. This would include monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. There are also a few others that are made of different types of solar cells. This would include thin film solar cells, amorphous silicon solar cells, and what is called a bio hybrid solar cell. Monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient. That is because of the lower silicon purity often associated with polycrystalline solar cells. Some of these can be very efficient, including new ones that have over 44% efficiency, surpassing the average 25% efficiency that most monocrystalline solar panels have.

New Elements Introduced To Solar Panels

Some of the more efficient solar panels include those that use what is called transfer printing. This allows the manufacturers to create the solar panels with a higher degree of efficiency and precision. Additionally, they use what is called gallium antimonide substrates. This allows the solar panels to absorb literally every part of the direct sunlight that it is exposed to. Longer wavelength photons are now absorbed by these solar panels, improving their ability to produce electricity. This is just one of the latest advancements in solar panel technology that is moving us closer to generating electricity primarily from solar panels and solar arrays.

Why Many People Are Investing In Solar Panels

There are three primary reasons why solar panels are becoming much more popular. First of all, it has to do with the materials that they are made of. Second, the design of the solar panel system can contribute to its overall efficiency. This includes the use of the solar panels, inverters, battery packs, proper wiring, and what is called a solar tracking mechanism. Finally, the cost of producing solar panels has come down over the years. This includes a lower cost for producing the solar panels and how streamlined the production processes. The lower costs are motivating people to make this initial investment which will easily pay for itself in just a few years.

This overview of what solar panels are made of should show you that technology is continually advancing. The designs of today are so much more efficient than they were when they first came out. If projections are correct, it is possible that are dependency upon hydroelectric dams may begin to diminish over the next few decades. The efficiency levels of new solar panels has also motivated many people to make this type of investment. It allows consumers to effectively generate free electricity from the sun which helps them save money on their utility bills every year.

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A Step By Step Guide To How Solar Panels Work

Solar panels are one of the most common alternative energy providers. While most people know about solar panels, they will not actually know how they work. If you are considering solar panels for your home, you need to know how the solar panels work to better understand your investment.

Step 1 – Collecting Sunlight

The first step that solar panels take is to collect sunlight. Every solar panel will have PV or photovoltaic cells. These cells are what the panels use to collect sunlight and transform it into energy. This is the reason why you have to be careful with the placement of your solar panels. If they do not get enough light, they will not be able to collect enough energy.

When the sunlight hits the solar panel, the PV cells will start to work. They will take the light photons and turn it into direct current electricity. While this is the first step, it does not actually help your home that much. This is due to the fact that DC electricity cannot be used to power your home.

Step 2 – Inverters Convert The Power

The second step solar panels take is to covert the DC electricity they have into power that you can use. This step is completed by the inverter which is something that every solar panel will have. The inverter will generally be located on the back of the solar panel and will convert DC electricity to AC electricity. This is important because AC electricity is what every device and appliance in your home will run on.

The exact steps that the inverter takes will vary depending on the type that you have. String inverters are the cheapest and will not be mounted to each solar panel. The problem with these inverters is that when one solar panel is shaded the entire string will suffer and the energy output will be lower.

Microinverters are attached to each solar panel and are more common in modern solar panel systems. One issue that you might have with these inverters is the fact that they are relatively new to the market and could not be as reliable as the string inverters. However, each panel will output AC electricity with these inverters which makes the entire array more effective.

Step 3 – Energy Flows Into A Net Meter

The next step that the solar panels take is to push the AC energy into the net meter. The net meter is important because it will determine the amount of energy your panels are creating and the amount you are drawing from the utility grid. Of course, this will only be part of your system if your property is still linked to the utility grid. If you have disconnected your property, this step will not take place as there will be nothing to monitor.

The flow into the net meter will also help to determine how much of your solar energy is going back into the grid. When you push energy into the utility grid, you will receive a credit for this from the utility company.

The next step in the process will be to store the energy that is created by the solar panels. This will be done using a battery bank which is connected to the inverters. The size of the battery bank used by the solar panels will vary depending on the size of the system.

The battery bank will store the AC electricity produced by the solar panels until you are ready to use this. The charge in the battery will be replenished during the day and your home will use this energy during the night.

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