Why Solar?
Currently, a majority of the world's electricity supply is generated from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. There are growing concerns associated with power generation using these traditional energy sources. This includes rising fuel prices, dependence on imports from a few countries which own the majority of fossil fuel supplies, the damaging impact on the environment and climate changes. As a result, governments, businesses and consumers are increasingly supporting the development of alternative sources. Renewable energy sources such as solar, hydroelectric and wind power generation have emerged as potential alternatives to address these concerns. As opposed to fossil fuels, which draw on finite resources that may eventually become too expensive to retrieve, renewable energy srources are unlimited in availability.
Solar power generation has emerged as one of the fastest growing renewable sources of electricity. Solar power generation has several advantages:
Unlimited and free. The sun’s energy is not depleted when we use it, and it is available free of charge to the entire planet. Finite energy resources, such as fossil fuels, are subject to market volatility and escalating prices as the resources are depleted.
Environmental Advantages. Solar energy is clean energy. Solar power production generates electricity without emitting global warming pollution as compared to other forms of electricity production.
Efficient. Solar energy systems installed on homes or businesses capture and use the sun’s energy right where the energy is needed. Up to 10% of the electricity generated at central power plants is lost in transmission and distribution.
Reliable. The sun rises and sets every day, providing an energy resource that is extremely predictable and stable year after year.
Government Incentives. The Australian government has established incentive programs for the development of solar and other renewable energy sources, such as (i) net metering laws that allow on-grid end users to sell electricity back to the grid at retail prices, (ii) direct subsidies to end users to offset costs of photovoltaic equipment and installation charges, and (iii) government standards that mandate minimum usage levels of renewable energy sources.
Great Investments. Once installed, solar panels can last at least 25 years and require very little maintenance. They reduce the operating costs of your home, and therefore add value to your home.
How Do PV Solar Panels Work?
In short, PhotoVoltaic (PV) Solar panels generate electricity directly from sunlight.
The solar panels capture the sunlight and convert it to Direct Current (DC) electricity.
The DC electricity flows out of the panels into an inverter, which converts it into Alternating Current (AC) electricity. AC electricity is used to power your lights and electrical appliances in the home.
A second meter is installed in your meter box to measure the amount of electricity generated and will reduce your electricity bill by that amount.
How PV Solar Panels Save You Money?
Solar power can be connected to the mains electricity grid or set up as a standalone system.If your solar panel system is connected to the mains electricity grid, any excess electricity that is not used at the time of generation can be fed back to the grid, effectively selling the unused electricity back to your electricity supplier. With a large PV solar panel system in an energy efficient home, the home can generate more electricity than it uses, effectively becoming self sufficient in electricity using renewable energy.
If your solar panels are set up as a stand alone system, then the excess electricity is stored in batteries. The electricity can be used at night and on cloudy days.
Different Types of Solar Panels and their efficiency
Solar panel efficiency is an indicator of how much sunlight a panel can absorb, and how much of the absorbed sunlight it can convert into electricity. There are several types of solar panels depending on the nature of material the solar cells are made of. The type of material is one contributing factor which determines the solar efficiency of the panel. The other factors that impact solar panel efficiency are listed under the heading of “Factors Impacting Solar Panel Efficiency”.
Different types of panels suit different situations. High-efficiency panels, like silicon monocrystallines, will often be chosen when installation space is limited or where frames and installation costs are high. Low-efficiency panel, like some thin-films, might be chosen where installation space is plentiful.
1. Mono-crystalline silicon
They have the highest silicon content, so they are currently the most efficient. High efficiency panels are often used where roof surface space is limited, or where there are high costs associated with installing large arrays of panels. As a result of their high silicon content, they are more expensive. However, the cost is offset by the fact that fewer of these high efficiency panels are required.
2. Poly- or Multi-crystalline silicon
They have less silicon content than the mono-crystalline panels. So they are also less efficient. As a result of their lower silicon content, they are cheaper than the mono-crystalline panels.
3. Thin-film (amorphous silicon)
Thin-film panels are cheaper than both mono and multi crystalline panels. But they are very inefficient. As a result, a larger number of panels are required for a given output. Thin-film panels are generally not appropriate for roof top installations.
Factors Affecting Solar Efficiency
Apart from the type of material the solar cells are made of, there are a number of other factors which affect solar efficiency:
Temperature
The electricity output of a solar panel decreases as temperatures increase. High temperatures limit the amount of electricity a panel can produce.
Dust/Dirt
Dust and dirt block light to solar panels reducing their output. Horizontal installations are generally avoided, to prevent dust buildup.
Shade
Shade blocks direct sunlight from the panels. A small amount of shade has a large impact on the output of a solar panel. Just a little shade on one panel can reduce solar production on all of the other panels.
Orientation
Solar panels should be oriented towards the north in the southern hemisphere. This will expose the panels to the greatest amount of sunlight through the course of a day. East facing panels will receive morning light, and west facing panels will receive afternoon light.
Tilt
The tilt of your roof can affect the number of hours of sunlight the panels receive in an average day throughout the year. The tilt of the solar panels will impact the time of year that they receive the most sunlight. A flatter tilt receives more sunlight in summer, and a more upright angle receives more sunlight in winter.
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