In today’s environmentally conscious society, there is a growing trend towards green energy and reducing our negative impact on the planet. Solar PV (photovoltaic) is being increasingly used by homes and offices for electricity to replace or supplement grid power, often by installing solar PV roof tiles. Harnessing and utilising the power of the sun can provide a number of benefits and advantages to your household
- Reduce (or eliminate) your electricity costs
- Reduce greenhouse emissions
- Obtain green and reliable power using renewable energy
- Guaranteed return on investment
There are a number solar energy offerings available:
- Solar electricity
- Solar hot water heating
- Solar pool heating
Solar electricity
Solar cells that you see on calculators and satellites are also called photovoltaic (PV) cells. They essentially capture and convert sunlight directly into electricity. A module is a group of cells connected electrically and packaged into a frame or panel. These can then be grouped and scaled to provide electricity to homes and businesses.
Photovoltaic cells are made of special materials called semiconductors, commonly made from silicon. When light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. The energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor, the energy knocks electrons loose and allows them to flow freely. There is an electric field that acts to force these freed electrons to flow in a certain direction, and this flow of electrons is a current which we can draw on to use in the form of electricity.
Solar hot water
Water heating is commonly one of the main source of greenhouse gas emissions from the most homes, accounting for around 23% of household emissions. Furthermore, water heating makes up to 40% of your home energy use. Converting the sun’s rays to solar power is one of the most energy and cost efficient ways to heat water. A solar hot water system is made up of a solar thermal collector and a well-insulated storage container. When there isn't enough heat and light from the sun, a solar hot water system reverts and is boosted by the gas or electricity systems already connected.
Solar hot water systems have been widely in use for many years. Solar generators, also known as solar power systems, solar PV (solar photovoltaic), or solar electric systems, generate electric power via solar panels and solar cells. Solar power/solar PV systems can power your home, and you can usually sell power to your utility. They use Photovoltaic (PV), a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Solar pool heating
Solar pool heating gives you an opportunity to extend your swimming pool usability period or even use it all year round. The size and system you choose will depend on how long throughout the year you want to swim, the water temperature you want, insulation, wind, local weather, and the collectors angle or orientation. Collectors take up 50-100% of your pool’s surface space: the cooler or cloudier, the more space. Due to the physics of heat rising and water evaporating, the first rule is to cover your pool to reduce heating costs. The cover will also help keep your pool clean and therefore require fewer chemicals and less filter maintenance.
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