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Solar Power System
Understanding What Makes A Solar Power System Tick
With more people looking for ways to help lower their carbon footprints while sparing their wallets extra expenses, the solar power system is beginning to be noticed more and more. These once rather cumbersome creations can now help power homes in remote locations, augment commercial electrical operations and even assist homeowners in offsetting their energy expenses in small and big ways. The viability of a solar power system, however, is something that many skeptics question. The reality is these designs might not be perfect, but they can make an impact in consumption of non-renewable energy. Understanding just how they function can help point out the potential perks and even the flaws in the system.
A basic solar power system has several main components. The overall viability of a solar power system for helping take a home or business off an electrical grid or effectively offsetting a portion of electrical use will depend on the efficiency of each component in the design. A solar power system functions using these components:
• Solar cells, panels or arrays – To function, a solar power system must have some mechanism for collecting the sun’s photon energy. Very small systems might work using smaller solar cells. A solar power system that is designed to operate a single appliance or an entire building will require solar panels or solar panel arrays (or arrangements) to absorb enough energy to accomplish the job at hand. Once cells or panels absorb the sun’s energy, they are designed to transform it into DC power. The overall efficiency of a solar power system will hinge partially on how well solar panels can absorb and transform the sun’s power into DC power.
• An inverter – This component is required to take the DC energy created by the solar panels and turn it into alternating current energy. AC power is the type of electricity required by most major electrical appliances and systems. The inverter can also impact efficiency of a system based on how well it transforms DC power into AC electricity. A certain amount of loss is generally expected in the transformation.
• A battery or batteries – These are used to store the created AC power for future use in electrical systems. Batteries, of course, can impact efficiency based on a number of factors. For example, if a battery doesn’t hold a charge very well, the collected power from the solar panels can be lost in the translation.
The overall effectiveness of a solar power system can be impacted by a number of different factors. Today’s designs, however, have come a long way in overall cost-effectiveness and efficiency. In fact, solar power system models are now used as the sole power outlet in many remote locations and some home and business owners rely on these systems to provide them backup power in emergencies. While they might not be perfect, these systems can get the job done.
News About Solar Power
Is Solar Power Now Cheaper Than Nuclear Energy? 29 Jul 2010 at 4:06pm
Solar power took a big step toward becoming the alternative energy of choice with this week's news that energy from sunlight might be cheaper than nuclear power. The analysis, which comes from a Duke University report entitled Solar and Nuclear Costs: The Historic Crossover, claims that, "Electricity from new solar installations is now cheaper than electricity from proposed new nuclear plants ...
China Tariffs for Solar Power May Match Coal Power by 2020, Xinhua Reports 27 Jul 2010 at 10:43pm
China?s solar-power tariffs may match those of electricity produced by coal-fired plants by 2020 as the country accelerates the development of cleaner energy, the official Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday, citing comments from Liu Qi, a deputy director at the National Energy Administration, at a conference in Nanjing.
Spain gives $10 million for solar power heating in hospitals 29 Jul 2010 at 2:54pm
SIDON: Lebanon's first project for solar power heating at government hospitals was launched in Sidon on Thursday, with the cooperation of the Spanish Embassy. The project was dubbed "Solar Hot Water Projects on Government Hospitals" and the inaugural ceremony was held at the Sidon Hospital, where solar panels were installed to provide the
Power of the Sun, Part 2: Homes and solar power 28 Jul 2010 at 4:22pm
Installing a solar power system in your home is a green and efficient way to reduce energy.
Solar Power Usage In Malaysia Expected To Reach Grid Parity By 2017 29 Jul 2010 at 6:25am
SAMARAHAN, July 29 (Bernama) -- Solar energy usage in Malaysia is expected to reach grid parity by 2017, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui.
Solar power ?net metering system? introduced 27 Jul 2010 at 2:50pm
A high-tech electricity producing system driven by solar power has been introduced by the Power and Energy Ministry. The new method called ?Net Metering System? was officially introduced by Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday.
Solar Winners: Power-One 29 Jul 2010 at 5:28pm
Power-One powers through Street expectations for its second quarter earnings, another upstart solar inverter maker that is beating the Street as a result of solar demand.
Premier Power Signs Contract To Build New 0.5 MW Solar Electric Power Plant i... 29 Jul 2010 at 6:45am
Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc., a global leader in the development, design, engineering, and construction of solar power systems for commercial, government, and utility markets in the United States and Europe, announced today it will build a 0.5 megawatt (MW) solar power plant for Mirrione Francesco Legnami SRL, a leader in the Italian timber industry, wholesaler of wood, raw construction ...
First Solar Quarterly Profit Drops as Own Project Development Increases 29 Jul 2010 at 7:28pm
First Solar Inc. , the world?s biggest maker of solar power modules, said second-quarter profit fell as panels were held for use on its own projects, reducing sales to customers, and as the euro declined against the dollar.
Enolia Solar Systems to Install 1.5MW of SolarEdge Power Harvesting Systems i... 29 Jul 2010 at 10:32am
SolarEdge Technologies, a provider of end-to-end Distributed Solar Power Harvesting and monitoring solutions, is expanding its activity in Greece, announcing a partnership with Enolia Solar Systems SA, a leading Greek company active in the development of PV projects, trading of PV solar equipment and design and implementation of rooftop applications in the rapidly developing PV markets of Greece ...
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