Solar Power saves Money

Off-Grid Solar Electric System Explained

If you have ever dreamed of being completely energy independent, then your ultimate goal is to live "off grid". Most people who live off grid are located in remote areas where electric utility service is not even available. But more and more people are considering it as a personal lifestyle choice.

There are two main factors involved in living off-grid. First, you’ll need to become very aware of when and how you use electricity. You won’t have to live without it, but you won’t want to waste it, either.

Second, you’ll want to become familiar with how your solar power system works, and what kind of maintenance is required. It would be best if you become an expert on your particular system, so you can troubleshoot anything unexpected that arises. Becoming an expert is not that hard to do since there is so much information on solar energy available now. But it will require time and commitment on your part.

A basic off-grid system is made up of 9 components.

First, the photovoltaic array and mounting rack. Wikipedia describes the array as “a linked collection of photovoltaic modules, which are in turn made of multiple interconnected solar cells”. The mounting rack allows you to attach them the roof and point them toward the sun.

Second, the array DC disconnect. This is basically a breaker between the array and the rest of the system. It allows you to disconnect from the system in order to troubleshoot problems with the array.

Third, the charge controller keeps the batteries from overcharging.

Fourth, the battery bank stores excess electricity. You will usually need enough batteries for 2-3 days worth of stored electricity in case of a cloudy period.

Fifth, the system meter is like your car’s dashboard. It reports how the various components in your system are doing,

Sixth, is the main DC disconnect. This is a breaker between the storage batteries and the inverter.

Seventh, is the inverter. This is the component that transforms the DC (direct current) electricity, which is generated by the array and stored in the batteries, into the AC (alternating current) electricity that can be used by your household appliances.

Eighth, the AC breaker panel. This is the same kind of breaker panel that the electric company uses to connect your house wiring to its electrical source.

Ninth, your backup generator. This is in case you have a stretch of cloudy days that outlast the electricity stored in the batteries. You can use traditional fossil fuels, but you’ll probably want to use biodiesel to maintain your green lifestyle.

Now that you’ve seen the components of the photovoltaic system, you can see why it’s not that complicated to become your own expert. Each component is relatively simple. The only moving parts are in the backup generator, and you hopefully won’t be using that very much.

California Legislature Approves Raised Net-Metering Cap

The California State Assembly has passed A.B.510, a bill that would raise the cap on net metering. The bill now needs only Gov. Schwarzenegger’s approval to become law, according to the Vote Solar Initiative.
Existing law requires California’s major electric utilities to make net metering available to customers on a first-come-first-served basis until the total program capacity exceeds 2.5% of the utility’s peak demand. A.B.510 doubles the net-metering program capacity to 5%.
California public agencies have already installed at least 51 MW of solar, saving taxpayers more than $270 million in avoided utility payments. With federal stimulus funds committed to support the state’s switch to solar, this legislation is a critical component of a fiscally and environmentally responsible energy future in California, says Vote Solar.
SOURCE: The Vote Solar Initiative

Coarsegold Publications announced the the opening of two new solar cooking sites today.

The sites are Solar Cooking Stuff  and Solar Cooking World 

The solarcookingstuff.com site has information on solar cooking stoves and ovens,  solar cooking recipes and links to various solar sites.

The site solarcookingworld.com provides examples of how solar energy is used for cooking around the world.  This site is also conducting a drive to help Haiti disaster victims to obtain solar cooking ovens.

A Bright Future for Solar Energy: An Alternative Energy Source

I was first introduced to solar energy in the movie, Race the Sun with James Belushi and Halley Berry in the lead. It was a story about low- income and under achieving Hawaiian students encouraged by their teacher to join the Solar Car race. In the movie, a car shaped like a cockroach and covered with solar panels used the sun’s rays as an alternative energy source to run the car.

Solar energy is the light and the heat from the sun. Solar energy is free and its supplies are unlimited. There are n air and water pollution caused about by using solar energy. But there is still some impacts on the environment although indirect.

Photovoltaic cells used to convert sunlight into electricity uses silicon and also produce some waste materials. There are also large solar thermal farms and these farms can also be harmful to the environment and desert ecosystems if not properly managed.

Solar energy can be used on different aspects. Solar energy can be used in agriculture. Greenhouses (which is entirely different from greenhouse gas) convert solar light to heat to be maximized in enhancing the growth of plants and crops. Greenhouses has been around since the Roman times and modern greenhouses were built in Europe in 16th century. Greenhouses are still an important part of horticulture nowadays,

Daylight systems are also being used to maximize the energy released by the sun. It is used to provide interior illumination replacing the artificial lighting. Daylight systems include sawtooth roofs, light shelf, skylights, and light tube. Daylight systems when they are properly implemented can reduce lighting-related energy consumption by 25 percent.

Solar energy can also be developed into solar thermal technologies which can be used for water heating, space heating, space cooling and process heat generation. Solar energy can also be used to distil water and make saline or brackish water potable or drinkable.

The solar water disinfection or SODIS involves exposing water-filled plastic polyethylene terephthalate or PET bottles. This process takes a long time, since the exposure time varies on the weather conditions. It requires a minimum of six hours to two days during days with overcast conditions. Currently, there are two million people in developing centuries use SODIS for their daily drinking water needs.

Also sunlight can be converted into electricity using photovoltaics or PV. PV has been mainly used to power small and medium-sized things like a calculator powered by a single solar cell. There are homes powered by photovoltaics. Using solar energy for water and space heating is the most widely use application of solar energy. While ventilation and solar air heating is also growing in popularity.

There are three main ways in using solar energy. The main way of using and converting solar energy is by using the solar cells. Solar cells convert light directly into electricity. Solar cells are also called photovoltaic or photoelectric cells.

Meanwhile, solar furnaces use a huge array of mirrors to concentrate on the Sun’s energy into a small space and produced very high temperatures. Solar furnaces are also called “solar cookers”. A solar cooker can be used in hot countries to cook food.

With all the benefits if using solar energy, there is still a downside for this alternative energy source. It does not work during night time. The cost of setting up solar stations is expensive, but the benefit of using solar energy when accumulated is so much more.

How Does Solar Power Work?

Solar power is energy from the sun. You feel it every day when the sun shines. That giant star in our solar system provides heat for the earth and light. But, what is going on when people decide to use solar power for their homes?

Solar Energy Basics

It all starts with the sun’s rays. The sun bombards the earth with solar radiation. We know it as UVA and UVB radiation. Much of those rays are reflected back into space but there is enough of that energy that is absorbed by the earth to fuel homes all across the planet. Unfortunately technology hasn’t caught up with our grand ideas to save the planet but you can do your part with residential solar power.

You’ve seen solar panels on rooftops and in yards. They have gotten a bit more streamlined since they first came out. Before, only someone with a lot of money could afford residential solar power but the systems are widely used now.

Each solar panel is composed of photovoltaic cells. These cells are usually made of silicon or other semi-conductive material. The cells are arranged uniformly with a positive and a negative end to create the solar panel device. When the light hits the panels (usually placed on the south side of the roof or the lawn), it is absorbed into the solar cells.

The light energy (photons) hits the solar cells and electrons are knocked loose. These loose electrons move through the array and create the electricity you need to power your home. At this point, the electricity that is produced is DC, or direct current. Your home uses AC or alternating current so the energy has to be converted.

This is where the rest of the system takes over. The electricity that is produced by the solar PV (photovoltaic) array, is then passed to a DC disconnect device. This device interrupts the flow of electricity from the array.

From there, you can use one of two methods for funneling the electricity into your home. If you use a residential solar power system that is directly connected to your electrical system, the electricity will then pass through an inverter to change the DC to AC. If you are using a system that uses a battery to store solar electricity for later use, solar electricity is sent to a battery bank where it is stored until needed. When you are ready to sue the electricity, it then passes through an inverter for use by AC outlets in your home.

Residential solar power lowers your home electricity bills. When used you are tapping into the future of the earth which is alternative renewable energy.
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Evergreen Solar Inc. has introduced its new ES-C Series solar panels, which are designed to substantially expand the company’s offering for the global off-grid market. This new line of 80 W, 120 W and 125 W panels will be manufactured by Evergreen Solar’s contract manufacturing partner, Jiawei Solarchina Co. Ltd., using cells supplied by Evergreen Solar.

The ES-C Series of panels are suitable for direct 12 V, 24 V or 48 V battery charging in a wide variety of off-grid applications. The panels provide higher voltages than competitors’ for superior battery-charging performance, particularly in hotter climates, Evergreen Solar says.

The ES-C Series panels are constructed with conduit-ready, multi-configuration junction boxes for easy, flexible installation, the company adds. The panel’s double-walled, high-strength frame allows it to withstand the harshest of wind or snow conditions. The panels are also designed to fully comply with UL 1703 (for the U.S. and Canada) and IEC standards (approval pending) and carry with them a five-year workmanship and 25-year power warranty.

Evergreen is accepting orders now for initial shipments, which will begin in October.

SOURCE: Evergreen Solar Inc.

Solar Energy Initiatives Inc. has signed letters of intent with several municipalities in the U.S. to install and operate approximately 4 MW of photovoltaic systems on government buildings.

The company anticipates that the projects will be completed by the second quarter of fiscal 2010. Solar Energy Initiatives will provide all solar equipment for the installation on the sites within the municipalities, as well as sell the newly generated solar energy to the buildings at a discounted rate.

SOURCE: Solar Energy Initiatives

Solar lights are fast becoming more desirable in our homes as well as in our landscapes and on our patios and decks.

Solar lights create a different type of illumination than conventional lighting. Solar powered lights add a unique ambiance to your home and add beautiful subtle pools of light that make them an ideal type of lighting to use for those late night garden parties or spa sessions. Solar lights surrounding a backyard pool or fish pond make these areas beautiful after dark – and provide a degree of safety as well.

Solar lights don’t need wiring as traditional lights do so you can place them where they will do the most good or simply where you want them. They are the easiest most inexpensive way to light your yard, garden, patio, deck or swimming pool. They are also extremely safe as electrical shock is not an issue.

Permanent solar lights, that is, those lights that are part of a home solar power system may entitle you, if you are a homeowner, to a tax credit or deduction. The federal and state governments sometimes offer such deductions as incentives to encourage people to install solar as a renewable alternative energy option. An example of a permanent installation would be security lights placed at strategic locations around your home of property. They may come at dusk or they may be designed as motion lights to come on when something moves within the scope of the sensor.

Solar lights are quickly evolving into an attractive desirable way to provide at least some of the light in our homes. But solar lights really come into their own when they are used to light buildings, camp sites, tents, RVs, and areas not close to traditional electric power. Solar powered lanterns and portable solar packs are invaluable on those treks into the wilderness!

The batteries being used in today’s solar lights are much improved and provide brighter light for a longer period of time then earlier models. Cell phones and other small electronic items can be recharged using portable solar units and can be a valuable safety device when you are alone in the wild.

The one caveat for solar lighting is the fact that the solar panels through which the batteries are recharged are the most efficient when they are exposed to strong sunlight for most of the day. Therefore, cloudy weather, short winter days, trees or buildings, a dirty panel, in short, anything that prevents the sunlight from reaching the solar panel will affect the length of time the solar light remains on at night.

While solar light technology is rapidly progressing, this progress is fueled by consumer interest and a willingness to purchase solar products. Therefore, the more we are willing to incorporate solar powered products into our lives now the more quickly new technologies will emerge and those of us who are already using solar power will be able to remain on the cutting edge of this technology.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
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Solar Shingles

You can now buy solar shingles that look like your existing asphalt shingles. They have a similar matte finish and are the same size. The big difference is that they are covered with thin film solar cells that collect sunlight and turn it into electricity. The thin film technology means you won’t have to build a large structure (an array) on top of your roof to hold solar panels. And the solar shingles will collect the same amount of energy as a solar panel array, but are much less visually intrusive.

Some homeowner associations won’t allow solar panel arrays to be built on a rooftop or in a back yard. And even if you still have to get your homeowner association to allow you to install solar shingles, it will be much easier to convince your neighbors (and board members) to say yes to solar cells that look just like the shingles on their roofs.

Solar shingle systems can be off-grid or tied to the grid. These means they can be used with a solar energy system that is self contained (off-grid) or that is tied into the public utility system (tied to the grid). The thin film technology works basically the same way as the larger panel systems. Sunlight is still being captured by photovoltaic cells and converted into energy. But the materials used in manufacturing the solar shingles are smaller. Developments in solar technology have allowed improvements that reduce the size needed to produce the same amount of energy. The smaller shingle-sized cells are now efficient enough to produce the same amount of energy as the larger arrays.

Besides the visual appeal, another nice feature of the solar shingles is that they can be replaced as easily as traditional shingles. They’re made to last for more than 20 years, depending on the manufacturer. And they’re built to withstand harsh weather like hail and high winds. But if they do need to be replaced, it’s as easy as replacing traditional asphalt shingles.

Still, these solar shingles are relatively new on the market, so you may have to do some research to find a supplier near you. You’ll also need to find a reputable installer who is familiar with the product. Your best bet is to search online for solar shingle manufacturers and suppliers. They will e able to refer you to a professional installer in your area.