Solar Energy Panels
Solar Energy Panels – A Practical and Responsible Energy Alternative (And It’s Free!)
Author: Richard Durst
In recent years the demand for fossil fuels has risen substantially due to the energy consumption of third world countries clawing their way into technological reality. Because of this rising demand an ever increased focus has turned towards alternative energy solutions like solar power. Solar energy panels are the primary parts of an energy system that has become more affordable over the years and afford savvy homeowners the ability to not only save on their utility bills but also allow them to be environmentally responsible.
Solar electricity is not only a free energy source but is also unique in that it is relatively simple to design a system that can either supplement or replace your current grid-tied electrical system. Solar energy panels are essentially made up of photovoltaic cells (PV) that absorbs sunlight and converts it into electricity. The energy is stored in batteries and then converted to usable direct current (DC) electricity for your home through the use of a power inverter
With this free energy you can heat your pool, power your workshop, power outside utilities or depending on your personal electrical needs, power your entire home or office. Because there is no moving parts, maintenance costs are virtually nil. This also translates into solar energy panels whose serviceable life can exceed 30 years! Heck, I just had GE service out to the house for the third time this year ( a pop just to show up) because of issues on appliances that are less than 2 years old!
Over the 30+ yean the energy savings that are realized equates to a REAL financial benefit which more than justifies the initial costs of building and installing a solar energy system. Coupled with the facts that prices are falling for equipment, the numerous tax advantages, and installation rebates, the use of solar energy panels is a very attractive energy alternative both environmentally and financially. It just makes sense.
Small solar energy panels are ideal for applications like powering your water heater or lighting up outside security lights; and these are available at your local hardware store. If you want to power your home or business however, it might be best to seek assistance from either your local “green retailer” or you can find loads of retailers on the web.
About the Author
By understanding how solar electricity works you will also understand the value of solar energy panels and how it can be the first step in fossil fuel independence. If you would like to learn more about solar energy, here is an article that outlines the design basics of a solar electrical system.
November 30, -0001
12:00 am #comment-1
great idea…but the time hasent come yet.
November 30, -0001
12:00 am #comment-2
great idea…but the time hasent come yet. I came accross a new, proven and tested home made wind power system and solar power system which eliminates our electricity bills. It was written by a Renewable energy enthusiasts Michael Harvey the diy called Earth4energy. You can get your copy to save energy and help environment while eliminating your power bills. Get it from here:
http://how-to-build-cheap-solar-energy.blogspot.com/
November 30, -0001
12:00 am #comment-3
Buying solar panels can be very expensive, especially for installation.
If your average daily usage is 6.6 kilowatt per hour, then you would need a 2 kilowatt system that could generate ten kilowatts per hour in a day. This system could cost between $10,000 to $20,000. Of course, the higher wattage, the higher the cost.
There are some alternatives to spending thousands of dollars on solar panels.
1) Buy several solar panel kits and link them together yourself.
2) Combine solar with wind power to decrease the number of panels you will need.
3) Build your own solar panels for around $200 each.
If you are handy with some basic soldering, then you can make your own solar panels.
November 30, -0001
12:00 am #comment-4
Solar Power Purchase Agreements, or PPA, have historically been for large systems for commercial and municipal customers. However, they are starting to venture into the residential sector.
Buying the power from the panels instead of the panels itself can help with the upfront costs and lock you in to a lower per kwh cost than buying from the electric company. However, you would not qualify for the rebates available if you bought the equipment yourself, so you would continue to pay for electricity after the equipment was paid for if you bought it outright.
I don’t know anything about these companies, but a quick search for California Solar PPA turned up:
Heliomu PPA http://www.heliomu.com
Solar City Lease http://www.solarcity.com
SunRun PPA. http://www.sunrunhome.com
November 30, -0001
12:00 am #comment-5
Lucky you! The National Renewable Energy Lab has already created an application to do pretty much what you’re looking for. It’s called pvwatts, and is linked below.
What you do is click on the map for the city nearest you, then enter the size of your proposed array, it’s tilt, and orientation. You’ll get a month-by-month printout of the expected energy output. This is based on historical measurements over almost 40 years, so takes into account local climate, such as fog, rain, and altitude.
If there is no reference city near you, you can still use another version of the program to do predictions for an arbitrary location.
May 7, 2008
12:57 am #comment-6
Why isn’t the federal government willing to subsidize solar energy panels for homes?
Some states like TX and NJ will subsidize solar energy 40% worth.
But the technology to date has been quite costly in spite of these states’ subsidizing the cost. However, solar energy is starting to turn the corner cost-effectively in the past year or two.
Why is there no serious encouragement from the federal gov’t to encourage homeowners to install solar energy panels by offerering subsidies or rebates for installing it?
Would this be a good idea?
SHOULD the federal gov’t give rebates of 40% to homeowners who install solar panels on their homes?
February 12, 2009
12:11 pm #comment-7
How do you calculate how much energy solar panels create in a month?
I am doing research on solar panels and I am having trouble figuring out how much energy each one can produce in a given span of time. Knowing this would help me to approximate how many I would need to offset certain consumers in my home.
September 2, 2009
4:52 pm #comment-8
Why isn’t the federal government willing to subsidize solar energy panels for homes?
Some states like TX and NJ will subsidize solar energy 40% worth.
But the technology to date has been quite costly in spite of these states’ subsidizing the cost. However, solar energy is starting to turn the corner cost-effectively in the past year or two.
Why is there no serious encouragement from the federal gov’t to encourage homeowners to install solar energy panels by offerering subsidies or rebates for installing it?
Would this be a good idea?
January 12, 2010
9:54 am #comment-9
How much do solar energy panels cost?
My husband is interested in buying solar panels for the roof and i dont know where to find them.
March 2, 2010
5:33 pm #comment-10
What’s the best deal for Solar Energy panels for your home?
What’s the best deal going on companies leasing out Solar Panels in California?