House Solar Energy

Solar Shingles Catching On As Green Roofing Option

HouseSolarEnergy.net — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:36:22 +0000

From EarthTechling’s Susan DeFreitas:

Those shingles on your roof have nothing better to do than soak up the sun all day long — why not put them to work in powering your home as solar power producers? It’s a commonsense concept, and one that Dow Solar (a division of Dow Chemical) has been working on for a while. But new research from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia may go one better, by helping to develop solar shingles that also help to heat your home.

Researchers at the university have produced a prototype of a photovoltaic/thermal system that has demonstrated the ability to produce warm (25 degrees Celsius, or 77 Fahrenheit) throughout winter. The technology employed by the system was developed by UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Engineering, and will be integrated into roofing panels, which will then be tested and further developed through the school’s Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Low-Carbon Living this year.

The shingles are one of a number of ‘carbon-positive’ products, as they’re called, designed to help to prepare Australia for a zero carbon building code, which is being introduced in the UK and Europe in 2016. With Australia increasingly ramping up renewable energy — and cutting the carbon emissions across the board, as evidenced by its recent passage of a significant carbon tax on big polluters — it seems likely to follow suit.

These products, aimed at cutting the carbon footprint of the average Australian home, will be tested beginning later this year in UNSW’s “living laboratories,” the latest of which is located in the recently constructed Tyree Energy Technologies Building, built by Brookfield Multiplex, one of the CRC’s industry partners, at the university’s Kensington campus. During testing, the building’s residents and staff will test the effectiveness of these solar roofing materials, with feedback incorporated into the design process in preparation for the commercial market.

In the U.S., similar efforts are under way to develop products for the green building industry through the Energy Innovation Hub in Philadelphia, which was established back in 2010 as a center for research innovations in the field of green building. This Hub brings together researchers from Penn State, the private sector and two national laboratories with the aim of developing and testing technologies with the power to cut the carbon footprint of the built environment.

As for solar shingle technologies in this country, they have already hit the commercial market, but in a curiously small way, as Dow Solar has made its Powerhouse solar shingle systems commercially available exclusively to homeowners in the state of Colorado. They’re being sold as part of a three-part solar roofing system, which includes an array of shingles, an inverter and an energy monitoring system.

Dow is certainly not the first company to throw its hat in the solar shingle ring, but its brand recognition and partnerships with mega-builders like D.R. Horton may well give it an edge in this burgeoning market for such tech. The company is currently working on establishing a network of authorized dealers for Powerhouse shingles in Colorado, and will also launch the product in another, undisclosed U.S. market soon.

Also on HuffPost:

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Article source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/22/solar-shingles-green-roofing_n_1294849.html

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Homemade Solar Energy – 3 Steps to Free Electricity at Home!

House Solar Energy.net — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:36:22 +0000

People have different motivations to build their own homemade solar energy generator. One compelling motivator stand out among the rest — many folks are tired of paying hefty electricity bills to their local power company each month.

Not only that, energy bills seems to get higher without us using more electricity. Perhaps it’s due to inflation…or due to the shortage of fuel with respect to its demand in the world. Whatever it is, the feeling of being held ransom remains. It seems we all have to pay whatever energy rates the power company demands. After all, if they are not going to supply us with electricity, our life will come to a grinding halt. All our appliances would come to a standstill and we’ll experience much inconvenience.

Every now and then, we’ll think of those lucky guys who are totally self-sufficient. They do not have to worry about their daily necessities, especially electricity. And they are always boasting about using renewable energy to preserve the environment. Indeed, as we burn fossil fuel to generate electricity, carbon dioxide and toxic gases are released into our environment.

The most compelling benefit about using solar energy is the amount of money you can save. If you only save an average of $300 per month, you will accumulate about $3,600 per year. This is quite a lot of savings for the average family in our country.

If you’re interested to make your own homemade solar energy, here are 3 steps that will lead you to the world of DIY solar energy panels:

1. Decide where you want your solar panels to be

You may need to survey the surroundings of your house (and your roof) a little to determine which locations are exposed to the most sunlight. By locating this ideal location, you can maximize the energy output from your panels and you may need fewer panels.

2. Construct your solar panels

This is the most enjoyable phase. By following simple steps from an instructional guide, you can make your own panels. You can also feel the satisfaction of creating something useful with your hands.

3. Install them on the ideal installation site

Finally, you have to put your solar energy panels at your predetermined location. Similar to constructing a panel, you can also refer to an instructional manual to learn how professionals do it. After they are set up, solar energy panels are basically maintenance free. This means you can tap cheap energy from the sun without worrying about recurring costs. You will also need very little time maintaining them – an occasional clean up will do just fine.

When you build your own homemade solar energy generator, you can depend less and less on your power company and save lots of money in the process.

Originally posted 2010-05-04 02:56:44. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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OneRoof Energy Adds Solar-Power Savings to Homeowner Roof Tiles

HouseSolarEnergy.net — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:36:21 +0000

February 22, 2012, 6:54 PM EST

By Justin Doom

Feb. 22 (Bloomberg) — OneRoof Energy, a closely held San Diego-based solar company, will spend much of the $50 million acquired in its first funding round to buy residential power systems for as many as 1,200 homes.

OneRoof’s solar panels can double as roofing tiles while generating electricity for the home. The company trains workers to install the systems and then leases them to homeowners at little to no upfront cost, Chief Executive Officer David Field said in a phone interview last week.

Field is scheduled to appear with San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders today to announce OneRoof’s plans to add about 100 jobs this year. The company was supported in its first financing round by Black Coral Capital and other investors, Field said on Feb. 16. A second round is expected to close this year, he said.

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004 called for the state to have solar panels installed on a million roofs by 2017. To spur demand for solar power and other forms of clean power, the U.S. Treasury Department offers a 30 percent tax credit for construction projects using renewable energy. The subsidy is in place until 2016.

“One of the issues in the industry is that there’s a pretty high consumer-acquisition cost,” Nikhil Garg, a vice president at Boston-based Black Coral Capital, said yesterday. “Talking directly to the developer of these communities, you can really drive down the cost of solar install.”

Homebuilders want to work with OneRoof because customers don’t have to pay upfront for the technology and “now they’ll use that money for upgraded counter tops or for larger floor plans,” Field said. The installations can cut monthly power bills 10 to 20 percent, Field said.

OneRoof is starting work on a second round of funding and “expects to close that by the middle part of this year,” Field said. Garg, who declined to disclose the size of Black Coral’s initial investment, said “we’re going to be actively looking at it.”

–Editors: Tina Davis, Charles Siler

To contact the reporter on this story: Justin Doom in New York at jdoom1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Reed Landberg at landberg@bloomberg.net

Article source: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-22/oneroof-energy-adds-solar-power-savings-to-homeowner-roof-tiles.html

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Oregon’s solar feed-in tariff program gets an update

HouseSolarEnergy.net — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:36:16 +0000

Residential solar projects, such as this one in Portland, are eligible to participate in the feed-in tariff pilot program.

The Oregon Public Utility Commission has revised rates in its solar feed-in tariff pilot program — a program that tests incentive pay for solar energy generation — following trends that show rates appear to reflect sun exposure.

Incentive rates for distributed solar — such as solar panels on a home — will now pay more for small systems in several of the state’s rainy counties, including and surrounding Portland, but will hold steady elsewhere, and pay less for medium systems in some cases.

The changes represent the maturing of the a pilot program that launched in July 2010 offering between 55 cents and 65 cents per kilowatt hour to participants who install solar systems.

Rates in the program have been steadily revised. Now midway through the four-year program, the PUC appears to be finding more permanent pricing, though two years of tweaking are still ahead.

“Ultimately the commission is looking for that sweet spot, where the prices are in just the right place,” said Moshrek Sobhy, senior utility and energy analyst for the PUC. Recent changes, he said, are “pointing to the right direction. We may not be exactly there, but we are very close.”

The fine print: Changes include a 10 percent increase for small systems installed in Portland and surrounding counties, from 37.4 cents per kilowatt hour to 41.1 cents per kilowatt hour, while small systems in other areas of the state remain at 34.6 cents to 31.7 cents per kilowatt. The changes mostly affects homeowners who tap the program, along with a number of business that make small-scale installations, such as the solar panels that top smaller retail stores.

Medium projects — or the projects with between 10 kilowatt and 100 kilowatt capacity typically installed by businesses — will see a rate dip from 31.7 cents per kilowatt hour to a rate of 28.5 cents per kilowatt hour in and around Portland, while paying slightly lower rates, 25 cents per kilowatt hour, elsewhere.

The changes reflect results from the third round of allocations in the pilot, where would-be solar owners have swallowed capacity in sunny areas, but only trickled in Oregon’s rainy parts, ultimately failing to fully subscribe capacity.

In Portland General Electric and Pacific Power territory, neither utility fully subscribed allotted space to small systems. Pacific Power, however, managed to fill 88.5 percent of its allocation in mostly sunny parts of the state. PGE struggled to corral participants from rainier climes, filling just 42.6 percent of its allotment. PGE also failed to subscribe all of its medium system capacity, left with 9.9 percent.

“Anecdotally, the participants feel that its because most of this area is located in and around Portland where there is less sunshine than in the southern and central parts of the state… But that is anecdotally, there is not really a study for that it’s just what appears to many to be the case,” said Sobhy.

The rate changes are largely supported by participating utilities and interest groups including the Citizens Utility Board and the Renewable Northwest Project, which provided feedback.

Only the Oregon Solar Energy Industry Association and Oregonians for Renewable Energy Policy pressed for higher rates, with OSEIA looking for a 20 percent uptick in rates for small systems and OREP pressing for a 5 percent to 15 percent rate increase, with higher adjustments in cloudy areas. Both hoped to see medium system reimbursements set at the highest bid at each utility in at least some areas.

The new rates take effect for the enrollment period that begins April 2. Those rates will continue to adjust every six months according to the pilot program’s guidelines. Enrollments now occur by lottery in the first 24 hours, then are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Rates for large systems, or those with greater than 100 kilowatt capacity, will continue to be set through competitive bidding.

The program initially involved three utilities, but Idaho Power fully subscribed its capacity in the last enrollment period. PGE and Pacific Power will continue to participate through 2014.

Lee van der Voo, lvdvoo*at*gmail.com, is a freelance writer for Sustainable Business Oregon.

Article source: http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2012/02/oregons-solar-feed-in-tariff-program.html

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Minnesota Power hopes to jump-start solar installs with new rebates

HouseSolarEnergy.net — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:28:01 +0000

Talk about it

Minnesota Power announced Tuesday that it will pay up to 60 percent of new solar electrical systems for homeowners and businesses as part of a redoubled effort to encourage renewable energy.

The Duluth-based utility is offering up to $4,750 per kilowatt in rebates to pay up to $20,000, or 60 percent, of the total cost of new solar electric systems.

Customers also would be eligible for the 30 percent federal tax credit for the remainder of the cost. And utilities will buy back any extra electricity a home’s system produces but doesn’t use.

Minnesota Power’s rebates start at $2,000 per kilowatt for all of its customers, residential or commercial customers. But another $1,000 is added if your home or business has already taken steps toward energy efficiency. Another $250 is added if you hire a certified solar installer. Nonprofits, which are not eligible for the tax credit, are eligible for another $500 rebate in an effort to encourage institutions to set examples for the community.

And there’s even more money on the table. Minnesota Power is throwing in an extra $1,000 per kilowatt if the solar panels are made in Minnesota. There are currently two such makers of solar panels — Silicon Energy in Mountain Iron and TenKsolar in Bloomington.

Combined, it’s by far the most incentives ever offered for people adding solar electricity in the Northland.

“We’ve basically doubled what we used to offer because the program was underutilized,” said Amy Rutledge, Minnesota Power spokeswoman. “We’re trying to bring down the up-front cost to customers to get them into solar.

“We think the Minnesota-made piece is a great part of this program because it supports not just renewable energy but local economic development,” Rutledge said. “We have a premier solar manufacturer right here in our backyard.”

Tina Koecher, Minnesota Power’s manager of energy efficiency, said there are 87 solar electric systems already installed across the utility’s service area in north-central and Northeastern Minnesota. They generate an average of about 3.7 kilowatts each. The national average is about 5.7.

The fact the region doesn’t have more or larger systems isn’t because the Northland isn’t a good place for solar. We have as much sunshine as some southern regions. And cold, sunny days are actually better for producing electricity from sunlight than hot days, making the photovoltaic cells more efficient. Silicon Energy even designed its solar panels especially to shed snow.

“This is targeted to a certain customer who really wants to do something for energy efficiency. But cost has been the big impediment, we think, and we hope this helps address that,” Koecher said. “This is just a small part of our effort to encourage renewable energy. But we hope it’s a big push into solar.”

Most new residential systems are about 3 kilowatts, Koecher said, and cost between $30,000 and $40,000 to buy and install. With $18,000 in rebates and $3,600 in federal tax credits, the effective cost of a $30,000 system drops to just $8,400.

Linus Olson, owner of Hermantown-based Electric Builders Inc., said solar hookups were a good part of his business until the economy soured. His company hooks up solar panel systems to a business or home’s electrical system and the power grid.

“The economy really slowed it down. But if the power company can offer deals like this, that’s really going to help,” Olson said.

Tags:
minnesota power, news, weather, business, energy, environment

Article source: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/223602/

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Getting your DIY Solar Wind Power System Started

hselinkvine — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:28:01 +0000

Evaluating a DIY solar power system for the residence? Consider switching widely obtainable sunlight power into a source of electricity which your family and yourself can use to juice your residential home. The number of power that will be produced will depend on the range and electricity consuming of the energy sections and the number of direct sun light the photovoltaic sections attain.

If your solar sections are delivering more electric power than what really is needed to work your residential home the surplus sunlight power is often sold to the power company. This may be a fantastic issue to be in, be marketing electrical power back to the resource area. Here are a few points you must look at before deciding upon affixing a sun energy process on your own dwelling. In order to make back the 1st expenditure you have to verify how much time it may need. You don’t want to move out of the residence before having recouped your money spent.

Do you possess a large enough space or room on your roof where the sun sections is usually set up on that draws at least 6 hours of immediate sunshine every day? Solar panels work usefully in one on one sun rays. If the vast majority of the southern region looking top breathing space is canopied by nice huge woods a solar process just isn’t gonna make a lot of electric power.

State of your roof covering. Do you think you’re at ease walking on your roof covering? Is the roof covering too steep for you personally? When installing a do it yourself sun power process you will end up taking some time on the ceiling installing the energy sections and getting them together. In case you are not secure carrying out work on the rooftop for more than a day it’s advisable to take into account getting an expert to put in the solar sections in your case.

Finding do it yourself sunlight power merchants that you’ll be able to trust. Start out with the yellow pages and make contact with the community sun establishments in your region. Check out each retailer with the community BBB.

One more option is to seek out sun retail store web sites with the search word “do-it-yourself solar energy program”. Check out the outcome Internet pages. Ensure to check that the Internet page is dependable and risk-free.

In advance of when purchasing a do-it-yourself solar energy process from a retailer be they local or online, there exists a couple of questions you must ask them instead of genuinely possessing a DIY home solar power instruction manual. Won’t they assist you to establish the capabillities of your home and the measurement of the sun energy system in connection to your household’s energy and power needs? Will they permit you to assess the installing and operating instructions before choosing the solar power structure? Do they provide mobile phone technical support? How lengthy is the warranty on the devices? Who do you speak to for warranty responsibilities?

You at the moment are in a position to seek out the suitable service outlet that may produce you with the best quality build it yourself sun power method and awesome purchaser assistance and help. Regardless if you decide not to set up a sunlight energy system by yourself, look at employing a localized service that specializes in fitting sunlight power systems in property. The cost discounts will be well worth it.

At HowCanIGoGreen.net, you will learn all about diy solar water panel, diy solar water, and diy home solar power.

Originally posted 2010-08-01 10:26:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Canadian Solar Announces Sponsorship of NHL’s Los Angeles Kings

HouseSolarEnergy.net — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:28:00 +0000

SAN RAMON, Calif., Feb. 22, 2012 — /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ — Canadian Solar Inc. (the “Company,” “we” or “Canadian Solar”) (NASDAQ: CSIQ), one of the world’s largest solar companies today announced that it has become a sponsor of the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings. The Los Angeles Kings are based out of the world famous STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles, also home to three other top professional sports franchises and host site of more than 250 events annually.

“Given Canada’s rich hockey heritage, it was a perfect fit for Canadian Solar to become a first-time sponsor of the Los Angeles Kings,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar Inc. “The Los Angeles Kings have already made exemplary efforts in sustainability. This latest partnership highlights our commonality and provides a meaningful platform for a strong brand and renewable energy message.”

According to the California Solar Statistics, in 2011, more than 100 MW of solar power were contracted to California home owners seeking to reduce their carbon footprint, reduce energy costs and contribute to a cleaner environment. Southern California ranks as one of the top solar markets in the country as residents rapidly adopt renewable energy to power their homes. This sponsorship will enable Canadian Solar to increase its visibility in the U.S. and spread its message of sustainability and clean energy to customers, partners and project stakeholders.

“At AEG, we pride ourselves on being a sustainable organization. Partnering with a preeminent sustainable company like Canadian Solar is a no-brainer,” said Bill Pedigo, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships from the LA Kings. “The Los Angeles Kings are committed to sustainability, and this sponsorship with Canadian Solar furthers our track record of support of both renewable energy and solar, helping us achieve our goals.”

AEG, owner and operator of STAPLES Center, released an environmental sustainability report in 2010, outlining strategies for energy, water and waste reduction. With nearly 4,000,000 visitors a year the STAPLES Center’s high visibility makes it well positioned to inspire environmental responsibility and social change.

About Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ)

Canadian Solar Inc. is one of the world’s largest solar companies. As a leading vertically integrated provider of ingots, wafers, solar cells, solar modules and other solar applications, Canadian Solar designs, manufactures and delivers solar products and solar system solutions for on-grid and off-grid use to customers worldwide. With operations in North America, Europe and Asia, Canadian Solar provides premium quality, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solar solutions to support global, sustainable development. For more information, visit www.canadiansolar.com.

U.S. offices: 12657 Alcosta Blvd, Suite 130, San Ramon, CA94583Telephone: 1-925-866-2700Fax: 1-925-866-2704

Safe Harbor/Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are made under the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by such terms as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include the risks regarding the previously disclosed SEC investigation, as well as general business and economic conditions and the state of the solar industry; governmental support for the deployment of solar power; future available supplies of high-purity silicon; demand for end-use products by consumers and inventory levels of such products in the supply chain; changes in demand from significant customers; changes in demand from major markets such as Germany; changes in customer order patterns; changes in product mix; capacity utilization; level of competition; pricing pressure and declines in average selling prices; delays in new product introduction; continued success in technological innovations and delivery of products with the features customers demand; shortage in supply of materials or capacity requirements; availability of financing; exchange rate fluctuations; litigation and other risks as described in the Company’s SEC filings, including its annual report on Form 20-F filed on May 17, 2011. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance, or achievements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of today’s date, unless otherwise stated, and Canadian Solar undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

SOURCE Canadian Solar Inc.

Article source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/22/4281829/canadian-solar-announces-sponsorship.html

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Schell Brothers Reports Impressive Efficiency Scores from Home Energy Rating …

HouseSolarEnergy.net — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:27:59 +0000

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del., Feb. 21, 2012 — REHOBOTH BEACH, Del., Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — After rolling out its new Schellter™ Advanced Building Science features last summer, Schell Brothers, a Delaware Home Builder, has received energy efficiency statistics for homes constructed after the plan was initiated. Since the rollout, the company is averaging a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score of 52 on standard homes, and an even lower 31 when solar and geothermal options are included.

The HERS calculation, conducted by an independent third party company, is used to determine the true energy efficiency of a home. The lower a home’s score, the more energy efficient it is determined to be. A typical new home built to code will average a score of 100, and a Zero Energy Home will average a score of 0. The Schell Brothers results show that, on average, the company’s base-priced homes are approximately 100% more efficient than standard new homes built today. The energy savings is especially significant for new home buyers because there is a direct correlation between the HERS score and the price reflected on a home owner’s power bill.

“A low HERS score says more about a house than just lower bills,” said Mark Fitzgerald, Vice President of Construction at Schell Brothers. “It means the house is more comfortable and healthier than a similar house with a higher HERS score. When a house is well-sealed, has proper air exchange, and better insulation, you can expect not only a more energy efficient home, but healthier, filtered air to breathe and a quieter, more enjoyable day-to-day living experience.”

A total of 64 homes have been tested since Schell Brothers introduced the Schellter™ technology, with one home scoring as low as 18. This home included a solar electric system installed by Clean Energy USA, saving the owners about $1,400 per year on their power bills and providing them with approximately $2,500 of additional cash in their pocket from Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). ”We love working with Schell Brothers and watching their houses get better and better. We know that when we install solar on a Schell Brothers home, we’ll have extremely happy customers, not just because people enjoy working with our teams, but because they’ll have lower bills and more comfortable homes,” said John Sertich of Clean Energy USA. “We take an already fantastic product and make it even better when we add solar to it.”

Fitzgerald explained that the outstanding HERS results are a testament to the commitment his construction team and subcontractors have made to taking quality to a new level. ”The fact that the home is that much more energy efficient can really help in making sure our customers are happy, healthy and comfortable after they move in, and that’s what’s most important to us,” Fitzgerald said. Schell Brothers is continuing to improve the current HERS score, and the company expects the key rating to move even lower as construction continues.

Schell Brothers is located at 55 Cascade Lane, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Chris and Preston Schell have set the standard for home building excellence, high performance features, and responsible land use in Coastal Delaware. Sussex County is a natural draw for new home buyers due to the beach environment and its ranking among the most favorable of all U.S. counties in terms of property taxes as a percentage of home value. For more information about Schell Brothers, please visit www.schellbrothers.com or call 302-226-1994.

SOURCE Schell Brothers

Article source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/21/4279940/schell-brothers-reports-impressive.html

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Chinese Solar Company Finds New Home in San Bruno

HouseSolarEnergy.net — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:25:41 +0000

A Chinese company that designs and manufactures solar products has opened a U.S.-based subsidiary in San Bruno, the company said today.

Eoplly New Energy Technology Co., which is based in Nantong, China, said the subsidiary, Eoplly USA Inc., will focus on selling high quality solar products across North America. The company said it plans to partner with local and national installers of solar systems to promote the Eoplly brand worldwide.

“As a leading, global solar company, we will make great efforts and investments to expand Eoplly’s share in the U.S., which is the fastest growing solar market in the world,” said Warren Nishikawa, president and general manager of Eoplly USA Inc.

The company also has plans to expand to the Southwest and East Coast regions.

For more news about San Bruno, follow San Bruno Patch on Twitter and ”like” us on Facebook. Got Patch in your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter.

Article source: http://sanbruno.patch.com/articles/chinese-solar-company-finds-new-home-in-san-bruno

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Home Solar Power Systems – How Many Kilowatts (kWs) Are Created?

House Solar Energy.net — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:25:41 +0000

The first thing you might ask – what is solar radiation and how does it related to solar generated electricity? A good question and one that is discussed in one of our article dedicated to home solar power. This article, on the other hand, explains how kilowatts are calculated based upon the energy output of your solar array. We will also highlight the difference between solar cells connected in parallel versus in series.

The average American home uses about 25 kWh of electricity per day. The following example illustrates how to calculate the power produced by a residential solar energy system. By consulting a solar radiation map, we find that a house receives 5 hours of direct solar radiation a day, averaged out throughout the year.

Solar radiation maps are highlighted on may websites throughout the Internet. You can do a quick search for “solar radiation” to find one. They essentially plot the amount of sunlight based upon time of year and physical location that will hit the United States in any given area.

Calculating the power from a solar energy system

Divide the average kWh per day by the average sun hours per day. For this example, we take 25 kWh divided by 5 hours of sun per day = 5 kW system This 5 kW system will generate 25 kWhs under optimal conditions in direct sunlight for 5 hours, or 25 kWh on an average day with some at peak production and most of the sunlight at less than optimal angles.

Future articles related to solar energy will continue to explain the effects of sun angle, reflection, and refraction on the design, output, and installation of solar panels.

Energy as it Pertains to Solar Modules

Individual solar modules that are measured in watts have a particular voltage (around 40 volts) and a particular amperage (around 5 amps). A solar module with 40 volts and 5 amps is called a 200-watt module, which means that it has the potential to produce 200 watts of electricity when in direct sunlight, away from trees or shading, and clear of snow or debris. Since most electrical components around your house are only rated for 600 volts DC, it is rare to see a solar array with a string larger the 15 solar modules. On the other hand, since inverters need a minimum voltage or pressure to turn them on, you will seldom have a solar array with a string solar modules with a size smaller then 6.

Electrical components, like solar cells, panel modules or batteries, can be connected in either series or parallel. This makes a big difference in the total quantities of energy produced from the solar energy system, as well as the stability of the technology over time. Each solar module or component has a positive and a negative pole. In essence, this is the same way batteries have their negative and positive poles arranged. Take a look at how you but batteries in a flashlight. Same idea here. The manner in which these poles are connected makes a big difference. Connect Solar Panels in Series

When you connect residential solar energy systems in series, you connect the positive (+) pole on one component to the negative (-) pole on the next. When modules are connected in series, the voltages are added. Adding voltage together in this fashion creates a long chain of solar modules all working together, depending upon each other, and creating a flow of current that increases along the length of the system.

These modules in series are called Strings. The average string is 8-12 modules so the voltage would be 320 – 480. Unfortunately, we encounter some negative aspects of of this type of construction.

Connecting Solar Panels in Parallel

When you connect solar panels or components in parallel, you connect the panels so current can travel to your inverter and to your house via multiple paths. Unlike adding solar modules in series which increases the volume of current as it goes, the solar panels connected in parallel has the effective of leaving the current or volume of electricity passing through the system the same.

Solar panels or strings of solar arrays tied together in parallel are called parallel systems. Their amps are combined together but the total voltage remains the same. Adding amps is like increasing the volume, the pressure stays the same but the volume goes up. Inverters can only handle so much volume so you will seldom see more than 1 to 3 strings in parallel; positive ends to positive ends with negative ends to negative ends.

One of the advantages of parallel connection is that electricity continues to flow, even though one of the components (or strings) is damaged. If a system is entirely in series, one damaged component stops the entire system. You may remember the ever-frustrating Christmas lights that were connected in series. Often difficult to trouble shoot, strings of lights connected in series are hard to fix when one bulb blew out. Now, the modern Christmas lights are connected in parallel. You can see this because there are two wires connecting each lamp. You can feel this via their less frustrating maintenance and operation.

Options for Residential Solar Energy Systems

In this article, we explained in some detail how solar modules calculate the power they produce as well as how connecting solar arrays in series or parallel can have an large impact on energy output as well as complexity of design. Our next article will cover how sun angle affects solar energy systems and how to quantify the solar power produced from the sun.

New solar energy system rentals allow you to upgrade your home to solar generated electricity with no large system to purchase. You can rent the solar energy equipment needed to generate up to 100 percent of your electricity needs. Exciting aspects related to clean, green solar energy are emerging all around us.

Originally posted 2010-05-05 10:21:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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