Solar power can be a viable alternative to other energy sources.
Many people question the viability of solar power especially in the early days when these panels were inefficient and costly and back up batteries were also expensive heavy and could leak and cause acid burns and damage.
In out back properties and isolated Islands hydrocarbon fuel powered generators were the only choice. With the high price of fuel these days and the pollution concerns as well as high maintenance a lot of people are looking into alternatives such as PV arrays coupled with high efficiency battery storage and inverters. These systems are coming down in price as modern manufacturing makes them mass produced and reliable. Many of these systems can completely replace a generator power system and are low maintenance and have a pay back time between 5 and 12 years where as a generator will need to be refurbished or replaced long before this time.
Now with the advent of thin film and amorphous types of solar panels coupled with cheaper manufacturing solar power is starting to make its way into more common appliances. More powerful and cheaper storage batteries like nickel cadmium or nickel metal hydride and the newer lithium types of batteries are also paving the way for solar power and energy storage. Solar charge controllers are now at affordable prices and take the guess work out of recharging batteries and automate the process completely.
Solar power is now at a point where the ordinary householder can opt to get a small solar system installed on their roof that supplies most of their electrical needs during the day and feeds excess power back into the electrical grid. These grid tied systems don't require storage batteries which makes the initial cost of them affordable. Excess power is either paid back in credits to the owner or in some countries a cheque for the power generated is issued to the solar owner. Larger more complicated systems are being installed on factories and office buildings
Small lightweight high energy batteries are paving the way for small to medium sized solar appliances. These batteries enable things like small torches , pond pumps, garden lighting,cell phone chargers ipod chargers,portable traffic lights, electronic billboards,laptop computers and many numerous other appliances to be conveniently charged from solar power.
Medium sized solar systems can be installed on camper vans and of road vehicles coupled with new deep-cycle sealed batteries to power electrical appliances like microwave ovens and small refrigerators. Also compact fluorescent lighting, low power televisions and other modern appliances can make camping more like being in your own home. Small solar generating systems complete with deep cycle batteries charge controllers and inverters can also be purchased as a fully plug and play systems that are easily integrated into existing cabins or small units as back up power supplies.
Smaller things like watches children's toys, small fans for out door cooling, attractive night time lamps with LED lights ,key chain pocket lights,solar run fans for caps and many other appliances are springing up on the Market with the advent of cheaper solar technology. The suns energy can also be used for heating water for house hold use and also lager systems are used for heating pools and spa's . Solar room heating is also used for heating large indoor area's in winter combined with heat storage through large thermal mass like brick walls or concrete floors .Heat can also be stored as hot water in large insulated tanks and circulated through buildings at night .
So whether we like it or not solar power is slowly becoming a part of our lives in one way or another.
By Andrew Aidulis.
Many people question the viability of solar power especially in the early days when these panels were inefficient and costly and back up batteries were also expensive heavy and could leak and cause acid burns and damage.
In out back properties and isolated Islands hydrocarbon fuel powered generators were the only choice. With the high price of fuel these days and the pollution concerns as well as high maintenance a lot of people are looking into alternatives such as PV arrays coupled with high efficiency battery storage and inverters. These systems are coming down in price as modern manufacturing makes them mass produced and reliable. Many of these systems can completely replace a generator power system and are low maintenance and have a pay back time between 5 and 12 years where as a generator will need to be refurbished or replaced long before this time.
Now with the advent of thin film and amorphous types of solar panels coupled with cheaper manufacturing solar power is starting to make its way into more common appliances. More powerful and cheaper storage batteries like nickel cadmium or nickel metal hydride and the newer lithium types of batteries are also paving the way for solar power and energy storage. Solar charge controllers are now at affordable prices and take the guess work out of recharging batteries and automate the process completely.
Solar power is now at a point where the ordinary householder can opt to get a small solar system installed on their roof that supplies most of their electrical needs during the day and feeds excess power back into the electrical grid. These grid tied systems don't require storage batteries which makes the initial cost of them affordable. Excess power is either paid back in credits to the owner or in some countries a cheque for the power generated is issued to the solar owner. Larger more complicated systems are being installed on factories and office buildings
Small lightweight high energy batteries are paving the way for small to medium sized solar appliances. These batteries enable things like small torches , pond pumps, garden lighting,cell phone chargers ipod chargers,portable traffic lights, electronic billboards,laptop computers and many numerous other appliances to be conveniently charged from solar power.
Medium sized solar systems can be installed on camper vans and of road vehicles coupled with new deep-cycle sealed batteries to power electrical appliances like microwave ovens and small refrigerators. Also compact fluorescent lighting, low power televisions and other modern appliances can make camping more like being in your own home. Small solar generating systems complete with deep cycle batteries charge controllers and inverters can also be purchased as a fully plug and play systems that are easily integrated into existing cabins or small units as back up power supplies.
Smaller things like watches children's toys, small fans for out door cooling, attractive night time lamps with LED lights ,key chain pocket lights,solar run fans for caps and many other appliances are springing up on the Market with the advent of cheaper solar technology. The suns energy can also be used for heating water for house hold use and also lager systems are used for heating pools and spa's . Solar room heating is also used for heating large indoor area's in winter combined with heat storage through large thermal mass like brick walls or concrete floors .Heat can also be stored as hot water in large insulated tanks and circulated through buildings at night .
So whether we like it or not solar power is slowly becoming a part of our lives in one way or another.
By Andrew Aidulis.
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