Solar 101

Solar PV (Photovaltaic)

What is Solar PV?

• This method converts the sun’s power into electricity, called the photovoltaic process.
• Solar cells, or photovoltaic cells are often silicon-based pieces of material that absorb the sun’s light. Not warmth, as in solar thermal applications.
• Many of these solar cells are often combined in solar panels.
• Numbers of solar panels can be combined and interlinked for greater power.
• Solar energy excites the electrons in the solar cell and electricity is produced.
• This electricity is in the form of direct current or DC.
• DC however is not useable for most common purposes.
• So, next DC power is transformed through an inverter to alternating current, or AC at 120 Volt, a common-use voltage.
• A small amount of solar energy is lost in this DC to AC conversion but is now ready for distribution to household appliances.
• Night time use and reduced sunlight you may be connected to the regular power grid. It may be possible to feed any excess energy that your batteries cannot hold, back to the grid. In this way you may become a green contributor to a public utility.

Solar Thermal

What is Solar Thermal Energy and How Does it Work?

• Solar thermal technologies use the sun’s heat energy to heat substances (such as water or air) for applications such as space heating, pool heating and water heating for homes and businesses.
• Solar thermal collectors can be mounted on the roof of a building or in another location that has exposure to the sun.
• Solar energy provides “power security”, enabling you to continue getting power even when utility power is disrupted.
• Businesses can save 40% - 80% on electric or fuel bills by replacing their conventional water heater with a solar thermal water heating system.
• Water heating accounts for approximately 25% of the total energy used in a typical single-family home. An electric water heater is the single biggest energy user of all appliances in the home.
• Using solar energy is free and it is an environmentally friendly source of power.
• Solar Thermal energy can be integrated with existing energy methods, such as wood stove and demand boiler, to produce 100% of the required thermal loads.
• Thermal Solar Energy Systems convert the available light to heat rather than the outside temperature. This means the systems are not affected by temperature conditions.
• Solar water heaters do not pollute. By investing in one, you will be avoiding carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and the other air pollution and wastes created when your utility generates power or you burn fuel to heat your household water. When a solar water heater replaces an electric water heater, the electricity displaced over 20 years represents more than 50 tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions alone.
• A domestic solar thermal system annually prevents the equivalent pollution of one car!
• When looked at as a return on investment, a quality thermal solar system is actually a far better investment than most pension plans. The return on investment on a thermal system is generally over 5% and it can be as high as 14%. As utility prices rise the return on investment will rise, increasing the original value. More importantly, you own the system, therefore it can never be a bad investment! You can even take it with you if you move!