Residential Solar Energy and The Solar Power Home
Did You Know? You can create energy efficient solar powered home even if you don’t know much about an alternative energy. Find out how.
In the present day world, most countries agree that concentration of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere has reached dangerous proportions. Hence, the need to reduce these gases is recognized by one and all. Since the traditional fossil fuel based power sources release vast amounts of these gases which contribute to global warming, countries have opined that only solar energy must be used to generate electricity. In the US considerable efforts are being made to introduce residential solar power in homes. For example, the “Million Solar Roofs program by 2017″, attempts to convince every home to opt for solar power by the year 2017.
How can residential solar energy be made available to homes? Two alternative ways spring to attention at once. The first is the traditional way of placing solar panels at such points so that they receive maximum sunlight for most parts of the day. These solar panels are generally made up of photovoltaic cells. Residential power can also be made available by changing the basic pattern of the construction of a house, in which the solar panels are present in the edifice. In case the traditional method of setting up solar panels is preferred, we need to look at the different varieties of their constituent photovoltaic cells.
A Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell panel is one that makes use of an ethyl vinyl acetate encapsulent and a back layer of Tedlar, and comprises of a surface made of transparent glass. An aluminum outer frame is used for keeping these components organized. The sun rays, when they hit the crystalline silicon solar cell, get converted to DC electricity. This process is facilitated by the well-organized structure of the atoms. Then, this DC electric power is transformed automatically to 120 volt AC current that can be used. This is done by the inverter present in the system. The surplus amount of electricity can be stored in the battery banks, which are present in the setup. Storage is done with the help of a charge controller. In case the panel is grid-tied, the surplus electricity can be transferred to utility and can be sold off too.
Lesser amounts of semiconductor material go into the manufacture of the Thin Film Solar Panel. Consequently, these solar panels are cheaper as well. Three primary formats are used in the mechanics of this panel. They are: a) amorphous Silicon (a-Si), b) cadmium telluride (CdTe) and c) copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). All of these modules count high on efficiency measures. They can also improve the modular effect of a house, since these panels can be directly setup on the roof shingles.
String-ribbon can also be used as a source of residential solar power, at certain instances. String-ribbon is basically a combination of the thin film technology and the traditional crystalline silicon method. It generally offers a two-fold power yield, unlike the conventional solar panels that were set up. This is facilitated by a high temperature and a molten process that is used.
The basic items of all photovoltaic cells are the solar panels. However, these cells also need a flexible, mounting structure because this helps ensure that the panels receive as much sunlight as possible. The sunrays are effectively trapped, and DC current is obtained as output. An inverter is kept in tow that converts the DC output to usable 120 volt AC electrical power, quickly and automatically. Any surplus amounts of electricity should be kept in reserve, so that they can be used at night. This is done by the storage appliances of the system. A charge controller, that can be easily used, is also provided, so that the battery performance can be maintained at the optimum level.
Grid-tie solar systems are generally the more preferred types of photovoltaic systems. This is primarily due to two reasons: a) When solar power generation is at a low level (in case the sky is not clear) or is, indeed, zero (at night), these systems are useful in drawing up power. More importantly, the grid-tie systems allow users to effectively store unutilized electricity. This electric power can now be sold in exchange of money, by transferring the former to the grids or utility. Hence, the customers can earn a significant amount by selling off surplus electricity, and this often matches the amount they have to pay for electric power consumed. Thus, electric bills are reduced to a great extent.
In faraway regions, like log cabins in forests, homes in desolate places or tents in the woods, off-grid residential solar energy is used. These systems primarily function as standalone systems for power generation. During the night, or when the sky is cloudy during the day, battery backup is required to ensure the flow of power. Gasoline, diesel and propane are also used as last resorts in certain off-grid photovoltaic systems, in order to generate power.
There are absolutely no working costs when one uses solar energy. Sunlight is available in abundance and is free too. In addition, attractive incentives are being showered by federal and state governments to encourage the usage of residential solar energy. Thus, people should ideally utilize solar power for domestic purposes.
It is good to find a reference manual on residential solar power because this comes in as very handy. Such a manual will include details regarding how to install a residential solar energy system, the ideal part of the home to do so, and the ways to get hold of free batteries and relatively cheaper accessories that are required in the system. The manual would also explain the wiring mechanism and provide adequate safety advice too. Armed with all this information, you are sure to find it very easy to set up your residential solar power system and use it too.