The principles of passive solar design can be built into a house in order to reduce
the use of commercial heating and cooling.Passive solar is relatively low tech and
uses no extra devices such as motors and pumps.
Domestic hot water systems can be active or passive. A passive hot water system
uses convection (fluid motion caused by an external force such as gravity). An active
system will use circulating pumps.
Photovoltaics is a very different technology. Where it is possible for a handy type
person to build their own solar collector for hot water, a solar electric panel is a
product of modern high tech. There are two types of solar panels commercially
available at this time. Amorphous silicon and crystalline silicon. Amorphous or thin
film panels are about 6% efficient and crystalline silicon is about 14%. Solar
panels are wired together to make an array.
There are two main types of solar electric systems. Stand alone and grid
connected. A stand alone system is completely independent of the utility grid.
These are usually remote homes, cabins, house boats, RVs and telecommunications
installations. Stand alone systems can either be AC or DC. AC systems are the most
common for homes. DC is fine for telecommunications but where one wants to use
the appliances of modern life, microwave ovens etc., AC is most cost effective.
The main components of a stand alone PV situation are the PV array, battery
storage, controls and meters, and the inverter for an AC system plus a back up
source of power such as a generator. An inverter is the device that converts DC
power to AC.
Grid connected systems are always AC, may or may not use batteries, and need to
use a sine wave inverter. However grid connected systems do not need generator
back up because the utility grid itself serves as the back up.
Since commercial power is way less expensive than solar it can take easily 20 years
to "payback" the cost of a household grid connected system. There are cost
incentives in the works to help pay down the very high cost of grid connected solar
systems.
Solar electricity is still very expensive but the technology for stand alone and grid
connected photovoltaics is very mature and reliable.
How to Shop
Educate yourself. Send for catalogs from the many renewable energy companies in
the country and read them. You will learn that the equipment is fairly standard and
the costs are similar. You can familiarize yourself with the types and sizes of
components available. Solar electric components are well made. Solar panels are
manufactured by major world corporations who are usually already in the energy
business such as British Petroleum. Solar panels have a lifetime of 20 or more years
and new ones have good manufacturers guarantees.
Most catalogs also contain books on solar electrical and some solar thermal. There
are workshops available as well. After you feel fairly confident that you understand
this technology, find a local provider who is experienced. If you are going to have a
system installed for you, get references and make sure your installer is a licensed
electrical contractor experienced in solar electric. Even if you are competent to do
you own installation you should have an experienced person local enough to advise
you or help you out of a tight spot. If you have questions, feel free to contact me.
< Solar Selecting and Sizing a Solar Heating System >
the use of commercial heating and cooling.Passive solar is relatively low tech and
uses no extra devices such as motors and pumps.
Domestic hot water systems can be active or passive. A passive hot water system
uses convection (fluid motion caused by an external force such as gravity). An active
system will use circulating pumps.
Photovoltaics is a very different technology. Where it is possible for a handy type
person to build their own solar collector for hot water, a solar electric panel is a
product of modern high tech. There are two types of solar panels commercially
available at this time. Amorphous silicon and crystalline silicon. Amorphous or thin
film panels are about 6% efficient and crystalline silicon is about 14%. Solar
panels are wired together to make an array.
There are two main types of solar electric systems. Stand alone and grid
connected. A stand alone system is completely independent of the utility grid.
These are usually remote homes, cabins, house boats, RVs and telecommunications
installations. Stand alone systems can either be AC or DC. AC systems are the most
common for homes. DC is fine for telecommunications but where one wants to use
the appliances of modern life, microwave ovens etc., AC is most cost effective.
The main components of a stand alone PV situation are the PV array, battery
storage, controls and meters, and the inverter for an AC system plus a back up
source of power such as a generator. An inverter is the device that converts DC
power to AC.
Grid connected systems are always AC, may or may not use batteries, and need to
use a sine wave inverter. However grid connected systems do not need generator
back up because the utility grid itself serves as the back up.
Since commercial power is way less expensive than solar it can take easily 20 years
to "payback" the cost of a household grid connected system. There are cost
incentives in the works to help pay down the very high cost of grid connected solar
systems.
Solar electricity is still very expensive but the technology for stand alone and grid
connected photovoltaics is very mature and reliable.
How to Shop
Educate yourself. Send for catalogs from the many renewable energy companies in
the country and read them. You will learn that the equipment is fairly standard and
the costs are similar. You can familiarize yourself with the types and sizes of
components available. Solar electric components are well made. Solar panels are
manufactured by major world corporations who are usually already in the energy
business such as British Petroleum. Solar panels have a lifetime of 20 or more years
and new ones have good manufacturers guarantees.
Most catalogs also contain books on solar electrical and some solar thermal. There
are workshops available as well. After you feel fairly confident that you understand
this technology, find a local provider who is experienced. If you are going to have a
system installed for you, get references and make sure your installer is a licensed
electrical contractor experienced in solar electric. Even if you are competent to do
you own installation you should have an experienced person local enough to advise
you or help you out of a tight spot. If you have questions, feel free to contact me.
< Solar Selecting and Sizing a Solar Heating System >
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Alternative-Heating-Info.com
Buying Guide To Solar Power
Solar power is usually divided
into two categories: Solar
Thermal and Photovoltaics
(solar electricity).
Solar thermal is used to heat
space and water directly. Heat
from the sun is collected during
the day and stored by thermal
mass, i.e. large heavy cement
or stone walls, tile floors,
water etc. and radiated out
into the room at night.
Photovoltaics uses the light
energy (photons) to make
electricity.
into two categories: Solar
Thermal and Photovoltaics
(solar electricity).
Solar thermal is used to heat
space and water directly. Heat
from the sun is collected during
the day and stored by thermal
mass, i.e. large heavy cement
or stone walls, tile floors,
water etc. and radiated out
into the room at night.
Photovoltaics uses the light
energy (photons) to make
electricity.