Solar Energy
Solar Energy Information – Recognize the Basics of Sharp Solar Energy System
Author Admin
The most impressive manufacturers with regards to solar energy tools is Sharp. This specific solar energy information regarding Sharp will certainly assist you in deciding on your own solar energy tools.
Solar radiation, emanating through the Sun’s rays, maintains the globe cozy. Everywhere daytime visits our planet, solar radiation could be obtained, and nevertheless the ideal volume of energy might be accumulated in deserts near the equator.
Solar energy may be used to heat up the liquid or air flow in households, office buildings, green-houses, retailers, warehouses, garages, etc.
Solar cells are manufactured from teams of panels, which often accumulate sun rays and right away transform it in to electrical energy. Several watch as well as calculator electric batteries make use of solar cells; nevertheless the usage of solar cells big enough to warm up the whole residence is not even quite typical.
Many solar panels these days are just successful enough to light only one bulb, therefore a large number of panels could be required to offer electrical power for an whole residence. By saving the power in power packs, the power could be stored right until later on.
With all the expense of fossil fuels going up, lots of people are seeking to alternative energy as more affordable remedies for electrical power in the house and business surroundings. Although wind turbines and wave power are indicating helpful as natural powers, solar energy is a type which is regularly expanding in acceptance. Most companies are actually providing solar energy alternatives for the household, business and federal government companies. Sharp is among the major solar companies on the globe.
Sharp shattered in to the solar market in 1963 and started out developing solar cells, a tool employed to transform sunshine into electric power. In 1978, Sharp released the very first solar calculator around the world and then in 2004 Sharp released lighting solar panels. Since that time, they are gradually bettering on their own solar technologies.
Sharp solar panels are usually mounted by qualified experts. An “assortment” of solar segments is put on the top or even in the lawn. Sunshine visits the solar panels and then changes the power coming from the sunlight into Direct current electrical power. The machine utilizes an inverter to transform the Direct current straight into an Alternating current for use at home.
Solar power is extremely dependable as it depends on the sun’s energy, which can be usually accessible. In addition, it demands minor servicing. Routine maintenance specifications contain often cleaning of the solar array using a hose-pipe to clean any particles. Sharp solar arrays have a twenty-five year restricted guarantee. Solar energy is able to reduce the electric bill each month by as much as 30 % or even more whilst minimizing pollutants due to burning up fossil fuels for electricity.
Sharp presents items for home, industrial and federal government properties. Dependent upon the dimensions and specific features of the house, residential components might use the OneEnergy roofing solar system, the monocrystalline solar segments or even the ground-mounted solar segments. Business items are accessible for satellites, security signs, organizations and solar-farms. Sharp also provides off-grid goods for energizing battery systems or perhaps some other products which are distant from power lines.
Based on the height and width of the project and placement, solar coming from sharp could cost near to ,000 in set up for the residential home. Nonetheless, with all the Federal Investment Taxes credit and discounts from Sharp, the total fee might become ,000. With cost savings on approximately 30 % of the electricity bill, the machine usually covers by itself in cost savings over the 15 year timeframe or much less.
This solar energy information is critical in case you are thinking about buying sharp solar energy tools.
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The Pros And Cons Of Solar Energy For Homes
Author Admin
Many people talk like solar energy is the answer to our future energy supply. Since the Earth is constantly being bombarded with free energy, whether we use it or not, it would seem like a no brainer. So why aren’t we attaching solar panels to every roof if solar power is so great? As good as solar energy may sound, there are both pros and cons to solar.
The obvious advantages to solar energy is it is free energy that hits the earth every day whether we capture it or not. It is there for the taking no matter what we do. It is just up to us to capture it and convert it into a usable form, like electricity or heat. The amount of solar energy that hits the Earth every day is enormous. A rooftop receives enough energy to power an average home. And after the initial cost of the solar equipment, the energy costs nothing.
Solar is clean and renewable. Nothing is burned so there are no emissions. Solar devices just capture the energy that is already available. There are no worries about running out of sunlight, so it is totally renewable. At least for the few billions of years that scientists expect the sun to keep burning.
Solar panels and heat collecting equipment are typically low maintenance and reliable. Without moving parts, solar collectors can operate for many years reliably without having to really think about them. This is unlike most forms of energy generators that use flames, turbines, engines and complex moving parts that need to be maintained and can be subject to mechanical problems. This is what makes solar energy more practical for home energy generation.
One of the disadvantages of solar is, the sun only shines in areas for part of the day. Solar collectors do not generate energy at night, so you need either another energy source at night, or the ability to store energy during the day to be used at night. Also cloudy days will reduce the amount of solar energy available. This is why many home’s equipped with solar panels stay connected to the grid. This way they can use electricity from the grid when the sun is not shining, and sell any excess energy that the solar panels produce back to the power company. Or they just use it as a supplement to reduce their energy bill.
The high cost of solar panels has been the biggest deterrent to solar energy. Solar panels can cost more than the energy they will potentially produce over many years. It can take a long time for them to pay off. Fortunately the cost of solar panels is starting to come down and they are expected to get cheaper in coming years. Solar panels and heat collectors can also be easy to build for a much lower cost.
Learn how to build solar panels and other solar collectors for a fraction of the cost. Building your own solar equipment can make soar affordable to just about anyone.
Please sign the Declaration of Endependence at www.endependence.info/declaration . Short and concise explanation of solar photovoltaic systems. How do they work? Do I need batteries? Produced by the on-line local action network, Endependence.info. Show us how you are saving energy. We’ll copy your great ideas. Energy independence, we can’t do it alone, but we can do it together.
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What Is Solar Energy ?
Author Admin
Sun radiation is the sole source of solar energy. It serves as an alternative source of energy and can be used to power home appliances, cars, aeroplanes and so on. Since solar energy is free, abundant and pollution free, experts predict that it will be the main source of power in future. Though it may not have been fully exploited to adequately serve the energy requirements of modern life, solar energy has been in use for centuries. With rudimentary equipments man has harnessed sun radiation to provide power for household use since ancient times.
To fully understand solar energy it is imperative that we look into its production, its use and attributes. The sun which is the source of solar energy is made up of burning gases. The gaseous reaction taking place in the sun is called fusion, a nuclear reaction akin to what takes place in nuclear plants. The burning gases glows and emits heat that travels through atmosphere and lands on the earth’s surface as solar energy. The atmosphere has the ability to filter most of the harmful part of radiations emitted by the sun. What we receive here on the earth is just a fraction of the energy produced by the sun.
Solar energy is critical for survival of all living organisms on the planet. In its raw form solar energy is responsible for food manufacturing by the green plants which we all eat. Human body derives Vitamin C and warmth from the same energy. The earth climate as we know it is driven by solar energy. The sun heats the various water bodies and causes evaporation which condenses to form water droplets that fall as rain. The difference in temperature of different air masses causes that cool breeze we all enjoy. In short without solar energy the earth would be one cold freezing mass devoid of any form of life.
Solar energy is trapped and converted into usable power capable of powering home appliances and other electrical gadgets by use of solar panels. Solar panels are silicon made gadgets. To make solar panel polycrystalline silicon is molded into thin silicon wafers which are used to make a solar cell which is the basic unit of a panel. Many solar cells are put together to make up a solar panel and then are fitted in a glass frame. Solar power is a referred to as green energy since it does not emit harmful substance like the fossil based fuel. It is therefore environmental friendly and the only hope if we are to save the earth from green house effects that have caused great havoc.
The only cost involved when generating solar power is installing solar panels which is a one-time event. There is no maintenance cost incurred thereafter apart from occasional removal of dust from the panels which may interfere with sunlight. To make sure that power supply is available even at night when there is no sunlight storage facilities like a rechargeable battery can be used.
Solar energy is a renewable in the sense that its supply is continuous and inexhaustible. The possibility of the world running out of fossil fuel is real. The solar energy provides a solution to this scary possibility. It is free, readily available and since the sun will be with us for as long as the earth exists there will be no shortage. To improve the efficiency of solar panels to harness solar energy further research is required. Such research should take into account the size of panels and the possible voltage they can generate. Most important is to a devise cheaper solar panel so that it can bring down the cost of solar power and speed up its adoption.
All these attributes of solar energy is a clear indication that the world will have to put more effort in devising ways and means to exploit solar energy to satisfy our power needs. Solar power presents an opportunity to get rid of pollution from our environment and have an abundant cost effective source of power.
What is solar energy? How to go green with solar?
Author Admin
Solar energy is a source of radiation comes from sunlight. Basically there are two general types of solar energy: solar energy solar thermal and photovoltaic. Thermal energy to convert solar radiation into heat energy photovoltaic that converts radiation into electricity. The main objective is the main source of energy.To work photovoltaic solar energy, photovoltaic cells needed to convert sunlight into energy by the photoelectric effect. These cells are also known as solar cells made of silicon and compound materials which absorb sunlight. Stimulate solar energy electrons in the cell, altering the energy in electric current flow.
Form of electricity converted into alternating current and then back to Washington DC with the overall electricity consumption.Solar energy is renewable and has the advantage in perpetuity to the Sun is the only source of energy. It has the chemical residues that can still pollute the environment. Other energy sources have their own weaknesses and adverse environmental impacts. Deposits of coal and gas will run out one day and energy sources that produce large amounts of pollution in the environment. Nuclear fission produces large amounts of energy, but leave a negative impact on the environment with the possibility of serious injury results.Solar energy is also widely adopted because of practical advantages. photovoltaic panels can be easily positioned and installed in industrial or residential units. For housing, a popular method is to put solar panels on the roof directly, with direct sunlight. Industrial units usually choose solar towers or substations to generate its own power source. This may seem simple, but solar power has its own weaknesses.
Solar energy produces a small amount of energy compared with conventional electricity sources. This may be practical for individual households for their own solar panels, but it is possible for industrial units to invest in large-scale solar energy. Another reason may be the belief in the sun. Most industries and development needs of hours that can not afford to have a cloudy day to block your main power source.Solar energy is fast gaining popularity with their peers are more conventional.
Today, solar energy is preferred mainly because of environment-friendly. Being a renewable energy source, solar energy remains independent of the amount of sunlight so it does not require raw materials to keep the power going. Solar power does not pollute the environment and posed no threat to the environment than other energy sources.From now on, solar energy is supported by government agencies around the world. From the standpoint of cost-effective, solar energy presents an additional advantage compared with their shortcomings. solar power station being built as an alternative energy source in countries such as Germany and Spain. more projects and technologies that combine solar energy into their plans.
One example is found in Japan and the United States, where we investigate the feasibility of creating a solar car for road use every day. oil reserves dry, do not be surprised to see a solar-powered car on a road.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of SOLAR ENERGY
Author Admin
Many of us know that solar energy is good, but few really
understand why.
Therefore, I compiled a comprehensive list of solar energy
advantages and disadvantages that will enable you to make an
educated decision whether on not Solar Power is right for YOU.
Solar Energy Advantages
1. Saves you money
After the initial investment has been recovered, the
energy from the sun is practically FREE. The recovery/
payback period for this investment can be very short depending
on how much electricity your household uses. Financial
incentives are available form the government that will reduce
your cost. If your system produce more energy than you
use, your utility company can buy it from you, building up a
credit on your account! This is called net metering. It
will save you money on your electricity bill if you have one at
all. Solar energy does not require any fuel.
It’s not affected by the supply and demand of fuel and is
therefore not subjected to the ever-increasing price of
gasoline. The savings are immediate and for many years
to come. The use of solar energy indirectly reduces
health costs.
2. Environmentally friendly
Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike gas, oil and
coal) and sustainable, helping to protect our environment.
It does not pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide,
nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide or mercury into the atmosphere
like many traditional forms of electrical generations does.
Therefore Solar Energy does not contribute to global
warming, acid rain or smog. It actively contributes to
the decrease of harmful green house gas emissions. It’s
generated where it is needed. By not using any fuel,
Solar Energy does not contribute to the cost and problems of the
recovery and transportation of fuel or the storage of
radioactive waste.
3. Independent/ semi-independent
Solar Energy can be utilized to offset utility-supplied
energy consumption. It does not only reduce your electricity
bill, but will also continue to supply your home/ business with
electricity in the event of a power outage. A Solar
Energy system can operate entirely independent, not requiring a
connection to a power or gas grid at all. Systems can therefore
be installed in remote locations (like holiday log cabins),
making it more practical and cost-effective than the supply of
utility electricity to a new site. The use of Solar
Energy reduces our dependence on foreign and/or centralized
sources of energy, influenced by natural disasters or
international events and so contributes to a sustainable
future. Solar Energy supports local job and wealth
creation, fuelling local economies.
4. Low/ no maintenance
Solar Energy systems are virtually maintenance free and
will last for decades. Once installed, there are no
recurring costs. They operate silently, have no moving
parts, do not release offensive smells and do not require you to
add any fuel. More solar panels can easily be added in
the future when your family’s needs grow.
Solar Energy Disadvantages
The initial cost is the main disadvantage of installing
a solar energy system, largely because of the high cost of the
semi-conducting materials used in building one. The
cost of solar energy is also high compared to non-renewable
utility-supplied electricity. As energy shortages are becoming
more common, solar energy is becoming more
price-competitive. Solar panels require quite a large
area for installation to achieve a good level of
efficiency. The efficiency of the system also relies on
the location of the sun, although this problem can be overcome
with the installation of certain components. The
production of solar energy is influenced by the presence of
clouds or pollution in the air. Similarly, no solar
energy will be produced during nighttime although a battery
backup system and/or net metering will solve this problem. See
www.dsireusa.org for details on how net metering allows you to
save electricity and money. As far as solar powered
cars go – their slower speed might not appeal to everyone caught
up in today’s rat race.
To learn more about solar energy, go to http://facts-about-so
lar-energy.com/
You’ll discover …
what solar energy is
how solar energy works interesting facts about
solar energy how much solar energy costs
passive solar energy for homes, and how to build
solar energy systems
There’s a whole section for students, teachers and parents;
whiles homeowners can obtain FREE QUOTES for their solar energy
projects. You’ll find book and product reviews plus some helpful
energy saving tips.
Please email any questions to info@facts-about-
solar-energy.com
Solar Energy…when Will it be Affordable to the Average Homeowner?
Author Admin
Introduction:
Global warming impact to our quality and cost of living is large and very catastrophic. Homeowners are well aware of the increasing energy costs to heat, cool and illuminate their homes. The increasing costs of oil and other fossil fuels are daily headlines. The insatiable demand for energy to fuel world growth guarantees that the cost of these limited fuels will continue to increase. Political/economic forces will determine the rate of increase for fossil fuels. In addition, the increasing cost of global warming using fossil fuels is slowly being recognized.
The world is slowly beginning to understand the urgent need for renewable energy sources. However, each of these alternative energy sources brings major advantages and disadvantages. An example is wind generated energy. Wind energy is available to the whole world and generates electricity competitively with fossil fuels. The technology is understood and easy to apply. But, there are big objections to a windmill in “my back yard”. Also, the number of birds and bats that will be crushed with wind power generation is not a warming thought. Wind technology will be a component of our energy solution. However, because of the above concerns, we need other major solutions to meet our demand for energy sources.
This search leads us to solar energy. The amount of sun energy striking our world in one day is sufficient to supply our energy demands for a year. We will not run out of this source in the foreseeable future. The major barrier to harnessing solar energy has been cost and convenience. For example, drying clothes in a dryer is easier than hanging clothes on an outside line, thus convenience precluded efforts to find more energy efficiency. We can convert solar energy to electricity but with a major capital cost. Greater acceptance and use of solar energy will lead to lower cost.
Solar Energy:
Energy from solar energy can be divided into two major categories:
Passive Solar Energy: This technology ranges from clothes drying in the sun to solar heating for hot water and many other passive techniques. All are important for our present and future quality of life. The technology is well understood and can be implemented as economics and space conditions allow.
Active Solar Energy: One of the active solar energy technologies is converting solar energy directly into electricity. It is called photovoltaic cell or PV. This is a device that converts light into electricity using the photoelectric effect. The first working solar cells were constructed by Charles Fritts in 1883. These prototype cells were made of selenium and achieved efficiencies around one percent. The silicon solar cell was created in 1954. The solar cell has benefited from the development of silicon semiconductors.
Physics of Active Solar Energy:
The physics of photon to electricity conversion is well understood by physicists. The basic model is of a photon from the sun which strikes the cell material and excites electrons that emit electricity. This model is simple compared to the complexity of modern day semiconductors. The major variables of PV electrical generation are cell material and impurities in the cell material.
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Manufacturing Technology for Active Solar Energy:
Primarily single crystal, high purity silicon has been used to generate photon to electricity conversion. The manufacturing techniques for single crystal silicon and limited quantities of pure silicon impose a high cost for PV devices. Shortages of refined silicon have been hampering production worldwide since late 2004. This shortage persists to this date and has slowed PV growth. New materials are starting to come forward which should lower the PV materials hurdle.
Efficiency growth of Active Solar Energy:
Since the silicon PV invention in 1954, cheaper fossil fuel prices largely removed solar power from the public consciousness. Annual growth of electrical generation by PV ranged from 10 to 20% percent throughout the 1980′s and 1990′s. Worldwide installation of PV reached 1000 megawatts in 1999. Manufacturing costs for PV arrays has been dropping 3 to 5% over the recent years. This cost drop began to expand the use of PV electricity generation. Total peak power of installed PV was around 6000 megawatts at the end of 2006. Installed PV is projected to increase to over 9,000 megawatts in 2007. The average lowest retail cost of large photovoltaic arrays has declined from .50 to .00 per watt between 1990 and 2005.
PV materials have also been improving in recent years. The most recent materials approach is to process discrete cells on silicon wafers cut from multi crystalline ribbons which form thin films. This approach is the least expensive of known technologies. This group of technologies includes amorphous silicon cells deposited on stainless-steel ribbon, cadmium telluride (CdTe) cells deposited on glass, and copper indium gallium dielenide (CIGS) alloy cells deposited on either glass or stainless steel substrates. The efficiencies of these new materials are currently at 20%. Many researchers are working to improve the efficiencies. An added advantage of the new thin films is that they are flexible and are currently being used in roofing materials.
Current Trends in Generating Active Solar Energy:
Commercial businesses like Google, IBM, BJ’s Wholesale, Estee Lauder, Kohls, Target, Tiffany & Co., Wal-Mart are installing PV solar energy. From “big box” discount giants to high end commercial businesses PV solar energy is finding acceptance in 2007. The most recent retail-outfitter to become part of this trend is Macy’s, which announced earlier this month that it will install solar powered systems on 26 stores throughout California. These leading companies are turning to solar power because it makes good business sense and supports their environmental initiative. Creative financial arrangements allow these companies to afford the upfront capital costs and payback their loans with energy savings. So what does all this mean to the average home owner? PV Cost per Kilowatt (kWh):
In the California market, where state incentives and net metering are in place, PV electricity prices are dipping below 11¢/kWh, on par with some utility-delivered power. Moreover, according to the U.S. PV Industry Roadmap, solar electricity will continue this trend and become competitive by 2010 for most domestic markets. The outlook is very positive for PV generation of electricity. Once the capital investment is made, the cost of PV electricity is equivalent to fossil fuels and will continue to decrease.
Cost of PV Installation:
The cost of installation is the major barrier that has to be overcome for widespread PV acceptance. Around 59% of world solar product sales installed in the last five years were applications that are tied to the electricity grid. Solar energy prices in these applications are 5-20 times more expensive than the cheapest source of conventional electricity generation. This premium is well beyond the reach of the average home owner.
Fortunately, there are financial models coming forward to enable the consumer to finance PV solar installation and pay for this installation with the electrical savings. In order to make these financial models successful, federal and state incentives are needed and the installation should be connected to the electrical grid. These connections allow the home owner to sell back electricity when excessive amounts are available and to receive electricity when solar conditions do not allow sufficient electricity. Only fifty percent of our states have modernized to allow on-grid PV solar energy.
Berkeley, California is leading the way to enable it citizens to save electrical cost and meet environmental needs. Here is how their plan works. A property owner hires a city-approved solar installer, who determines the best solar system for the property, depending on energy use. Most residential solar panel systems in the city cost from ,000 to ,000.
The city will pay the contractor for the system and its installation, minus any applicable state and federal rebates, and would add an assessment to the property owner’s tax bill to pay for the system. The extra tax would include administrative fees and interest, which would be lower than what the property owner could obtain on their own, because the city would secure low-interest bonds and loans. The tax would stay with the property even if the owner sold, although the owner would have to leave the solar panels. The property owner would save money on monthly Pacific Gas & Electric bills because electricity generated by the solar panels would partly replace electricity delivered by the utility. After the assessment expired, the solar panels, of a simple technology that requires little or no maintenance, would continue to partly replace PG&E electricity.
The Berkeley plan is a map for the rest of the world to allow us affordable electricity and meet our responsibilities to the environment.
I have a BS and MS in Metallurgical Engineering. Thirty six years spent in the development of semiconductors. Business experience in start up business plan. Currently, an oyster farmer and interested in helping the environment by deploying solar energy. Please visit my Web Site http://www.charlestonenvironmentalhelp.com
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The sCharger-5 is a Powerful Solar Charger That Can Both Charge and Actually Run at the Same Time iPod, iPhone, Droid, Blackberry, Palm, eReaders, and Other Devices Direct from Solar Energy
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Advances in Solar Energy: Research & Development Vol. 5
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Are There Really Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy?
Author Admin
Solar energy can be used to create electricity, central heating, heated water, cooking, and even for producing salt desalination. Solar energy comes from the suns rays. Solar energy is known to be very environmentally friendly. However, when the suns rays move into the earths atmosphere it is quite dilute.
Although solar energy is known to be very environmentally favorable it does not only have advantages, but some disadvantages, as well. Lets hash out some of the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.
Why don’t we start with the main advantage of solar energy. Solar energy is clean. To develop electricity or heat with solar energy you need only the sun rays. There is no need for fossil fuel in conjunction with sun rays to produce electricity or heating. You simply need a solar energy collector or solar power panels in order to collect the suns solar energy.
Solar energy is less expensive than traditional electric heating. That’s another prime reward of solar energy. Just by utilizing solar energy you can save a lot of money on heating. In return you will realize smaller electric bills and it also means that you dont have to maintain heaters or furnaces.
If you live in a rural area where there are no power-lines solar energy can be your solution. There are rural areas where power companies have no means to access your home. Solar energy is a great alternative because it provides you with everything from heating water, a supply of electricity, and even cooking, and that pretty well covers all of the bases.
Another great use of solar energy is for desalination in regions where fresh, potable water is scarce. Solar energy evaporates brine and leaves the salt crystals in the bottom of the basin. The water in turn condenses into another basin where it is now potable.
While all of the above-mentioned is very useful, solar energy does have some disadvantages. These disadvantages also need to be talked over to paint a complete picture.
The main disadvantage of solar energy is that its dilute. Which means that you need to have a bunch of solar collectors installed around your house. Solar energy may be very cheap but the solar collectors are relatively expensive and require regular upkeep in order to work properly and efficiently. If you decide to go with solar energy you will need to calculat your return on invested capital in order to know if the investment makes sense.
One big disadvantage is that you need the suns rays to make use of solar energy. If you are situated in a part of the world where there is not much sun light then you could have a bit of a problem. In other parts of the world, the suns rays are almost always covered in clouds making solar energy collectors less efficient. You should first know if the sunshine in your area is abundant for the most part of the year. Of course if you live in desert areas like in Arizona or New Mexico the sun produces a lot of sunshine for the majority of the year and is ideal for solar energy collecting.
Finally the sun only shines during the day. Therefore if you need electricity or hot water during the nighttime, like many of us do, it can be a problem. You will need a backup system like the local electric company or you will need to store the electric for later use. There are battery systems available, that can store electric for later use.
Solar energy is very clean and an substitute to conventional heating and electrical systems. this is true it is also good to mention the disadvantages of solar energy. If you are thinking about applying solar energy you should read this first to make a informed decision.
The advantages of renewable energy definitely outweigh any disadvantages. If you’re like me, and sick and tired of paying electric bills, that just keep doing through the roof, visit us at www.energymoneysavings.com
On Friday, June 17, 2011, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and California Governor Jerry Brown broke ground on the Blythe Solar Power Project, the largest solar facility in the world. Solar Trust of America is constructing four solar thermal power plants at this location with a total power output of 1000 megawatts. The first 500 MW phase of construction will be complete in early 2014.
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Benefits Of Green Solar Energy
Author Admin
To truly understand the benefits of green solar energy, you must first understand how solar energy is harnessed. There are two types of green solar energy-thermal and light. Thermal energy is considered passive solar. This type of green solar energy is harnessed through the design and materials used to construct a building. By integrating south facing windows and materials that retain heat, like brick and stone, you can lower your energy needs and build an energy efficient structure. The thermal energy produced by green solar energy is also used to heat water for solar hot water systems. The rays of the sun also produce light and radiation that can be captured by solar panels to create electricity.
The most popular use of green solar energy is for saving money. Although green solar energy systems can come with a large initial investment, they generally pay for themselves in a few years by providing either supplemental electricity or all of the electricity to your home or business. Building your own solar panels, participating in government refunds and net metering, in which you sell unused electricity back to the power company, can reduce the cost of implementing a green solar energy system. In addition, green solar energy systems require little to no maintenance after installation, as most have no moving parts.
The most important benefit of utilizing green solar energy is completely environmental. With polar ice caps dwindling away and climate changes creating tragic storms world wide, it is increasingly obvious that steps must be taken to decrease global warming and our dependence on fossil fuels. Green solar energy provides a clean energy alternative as it creates little pollution and does not contribute to global warming.
Solar energy panels have become more affordable in recent years making it a viable alternative energy option for savvy home owners looking for savings on their monthly utility bills and the environmentally conscious who also enjoy the financial advantage, but focus more on the benefits solar energy panels have on global warming and independence from fossil fuels.
If you are a beginner to the solar electric world, then you may be wondering what exactly solar energy panels are? It is really simple and yet fascinatingly complicated. Solar energy panels are also known as photovoltaic panels; photovoltaic meaning electricity from the sun. Solar energy panels work by collecting protons from the sun, which displace neutrons, and create a flow of electrons or electricity. An inverter converts the power generated by the solar energy panels from an AC current to a DC current making it usable in homes as a direct electricity supply.
You can use solar energy panels to heat your pool, workshop tools, greenhouse lights and fans or depending on you personal electric usage, your entire home or business. Most solar energy panels are designed to last 30-40 years and require little to no maintenance. Over the life-span of solar energy panels, the energy savings realized by the owner is enough to justify the initial cost of the system and prices are dropping more and more as a larger number of consumers express interest and make the change to solar energy panels or other renewable resources.
Solar energy panels for small applications can be purchased at your local hardware stores. These small versions are ideal for outdoor lighting, small water pumps and other outdoor tools. If you are purchasing a home size or business size system of solar energy panels it would be best to seek out a local retailer of solar energy panels or a green energy retailer in your area. There is also plenty of information available online about different solar energy panel providers.
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Chinese Solar Energy Industry Has An Optimistic Outlook
Author Admin
www.shcri.com — As an inexhaustible and pollution-free resource, solar energy is becoming the first choice of energy for people. Especially when the traditional energy is becoming less and less, solar energy has become the green energy preferred in the world. According to statistics, when 1% of solar energy on the earth’s surface is transferred into electricity, the transfer rate is 5%. The annual electricity outputs are forty times the global energy consumptions.
At present, many countries are working hard to develop and use solar energy. Europe, Japan and America have planned to put the focus of energy supply security on solar energy and other renewable energy since 2030. It is estimated that the electricity generated by solar energy in 2030 will account for over 10% of the global energy supply and over 20% in 2050. The exploration and development of the solar energy industry will become the main stream of the future energy utilization.
China is rich in solar energy and the theory storage volumes are 1.7 trillion tons of standard coal annually. There are huge potentials on the development and exploration of solar energy. China is located in the Northern Hemisphere, and the distances between north and south, west and east are both over 5,000 km. There is rich solar energy in Chinese vast land. The average daily quantity of radiation yearly in most areas is over 4 kwh/sq and the maximum daily quantity of radiation in Tibet reaches 7 kwh/sq. The annual hours of sunshine are over 2,000. Compared with those countries in the same latitude, China is similar with America but much better than Europe and Japan.
In recent years, Chinese opto-electronics industry is developing rapidly. It has formed the scaled, international and professional industry chain and has many enterprises that can compete in the global market. The market scale of Chinese solar energy industry ranks first in the world. It has the largest outputs and usage volumes of solar water heaters in the world and it is an important producer of solar PV cells. By the end of 2006, the production capacity of Chinese solar water heaters reached 15 million square meters and the collector gross area reached 100 million square meters. The outputs and usage volumes ranked first in the world. China has over 1,000 solar water heater manufactures with the total annual production value of 12 billion RMB. It has formed an entire industrial system and there are over 200,000 employees. Besides, China has widely used solar houses, solar cookers, solar greenhouse sheds and other solar thermal application technologies. At present, there are over 20 PV cell and component producers with the annual production capacity of 1.5 million kilowatts. Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd (STP) has ranked in the top 10 in the global PV industry and its aggregate production capacity of PV cells accounts for 60% of the national capacity. To break the restrictions of high purity silicon materials on Chinese solar PV electricity generation products, over 10 enterprises, including Sichuan Xinguang Silicon Co., Ltd, have invested on solar silicon material projects with the annual production capacity of over 50,000 tons. With the improvement of the production capacity and technology levels of Chinese silicon materials, China will form a complete PV manufacturing industry.
In the future, solar applications will be focused on solar thermal powers and solar PV energy. Solar thermal power applications include electricity generation, hot water, drying, air conditioners, and greenhouse and so on. Solar PV energy applications include energy generation, cells, and electric automobiles and so on. Solar water heater is the only commercialized solar technology applied product.
China has become the largest producer and usage country of solar water heaters in the world. The aggregate area has exceeded 90 million square meters and it remains increasing with a speed of 20% to 30% annually. The outputs of Chinese solar water heaters have accounted for over 76% of the global outputs. It is estimated that after Chinese government promotes the solar thermal application work, China will have over 1 trillion RMB of market demands only on solar water heaters in the next 10 years. There are huge potentials.
Solar PV electricity generation is a mature technology at present. It is safe and reliable and has no noises and pollutions. It can acquire energy anywhere and will not be restricted by regions. It doesn’t consume fuels and can be built in a short period. It doesn’t need power transmission lines and can combine with architectures easily. Common electricity generation and other patterns can’t catch up with it. Before 2002, the outputs of Chinese solar cells accounted for only 1% of the global outputs, but since 2004, stimulated by the international PV market, especially German and Japanese markets, Chinese PV industry began to develop rapidly. The outputs accounted for over 10% of the global outputs, ranking the third in the world. It is estimated that the outputs of Chinese PV electricity generation products will be over 1,000 megawatts in 2010.
As the most potential energy in the 21st century, the solar energy industry has huge developing potentials. As it is a new sunrise industry and has a good policy environment, the solar energy industry has high investment values and developing potentials. As present, the solar energy industry is developing rapidly and it has good investment opportunities. But the operation risks and competition risks should be controlled to achieve good investment returns.
Source: China Research and Intelligence
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