If it happens to be that you are interested about how much energy does solar energy produce, then by all means, take a few moments to look over the following – it will surely greatly increase what you’ve learned about solar technology. What would you say if someone were to offer you a plan which provides you the simple technology for converting solar energy into abundant energy for your home at a cost you can’t afford to pass up – is that possible? Keep reading the following article.

Up until now, installing solar panels to create at least part of your electricity was seen as an undertaking that was out of the reach of most people, however, some thought of it as a long-term goal. Nowadays, people frequently perform Internet searches for how much energy does solar energy produce, which is evidence that interest in solar energy is expanding, and there are many looking for ways to get started in this exciting field.

The latest news in this field is that the time to easily ‘solarize’ your home is here and now and won’t empty the wallet of those who want to start enjoying unlimited power at no-charge (unless someone finds a way to charge for sunshine)! The technology itself is already here for many years, although it remained out of reach for the majority due to the price; so we continued to feel trapped in our relationship with the electric company, paying needless bills and counting our pennies.

Before you continue your research on how much energy does solar energy produce, I want you to know that not so long ago, a respected professional in the field of green technology wants to spread the word about a way for you to build solar panels and a device capable of converting the power of the sun into useable electricity with low-cost and easy-to-find materials and a simple method for assembling them. I realized that there happen to be a large number of people in the u.s. and globally who already enjoy the benefits of solar power, to create abundant solar power for their personal use, and in addition, actually make money by selling their extra power to the electric company. Because it’s such a snap to use, homemade energy production is going to create a much-needed revolution in how we get our energy.

Originally posted 2010-04-24 04:53:19. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

          

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Originally posted 2010-04-24 17:23:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

          

Every day, the Earth receives more energy from the sun than mankind uses in a year. Still, solar energy remains a tiny sliver in the global energy mix. Falling prices and better efficiency could change this, but can it happen fast enough?

When it comes to meeting energy needs, humanity has not been able to eliminate the middle man. The energy we use today comes from the sun, but we get it indirectly. Sunrays fed countless generations of plants and organisms millions of years ago, which we now use to burn to produce electricity, heat our homes, and run our cars. Its heat also strikes up the winds that we use to sail ships and run turbines. Despite our dependence on the sun, mankind has still not fully realized the potential of harnessing the sun’s vast energy directly.

Worldwide Importance and Future Trends

Even with steady annual growth, the International Energy Agency says solar energy – combined with wind and geothermal power – still only supplies less than one percent of the world’s energy. In Germany, the global solar market leader, solar supplies around 0.3 percent of national electricity demand; in the United States, it supplies less than 0.1 percent.

The UN’s annual “Global Trends in Sustainable Development” report said that the solar sector attracted 16 percent of the 70 billion U.S. dollars invested in renewable technology in 2006 – behind wind (38 percent) and biofuels (26 percent). According to the World Energy Council, solar water heating market is growing at a rate of around 20 percent a year, and solar PV at 35 percent.

If the costs of solar technology continue to drop, it has a chance to compete with other forms of energy production. In places like sunny California, solar has already reached “grid parity,” which means the costs of producing solar power are now competitive with conventional energy production even without government subsidies. Sinking production costs would allow solar power to eventually join or even replace coal, gas, and oil as a primary energy source by the end of the century, which some experts say is possible.

Global Resources and Producers

The amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth’s surface every 20 days exceeds the energy trapped up in all of the planet’s coal, oil, and natural gas reserves. The trick is finding cost-effective and efficient ways of converting this abundant resource into usable energy.

Currently, there are two main ways of doing so. Photovoltaic (PV) panels, thin pieces of crystalline silicon, transfer sunlight directly into electricity. Solar thermal collectors, on the other hand, are used to heat water for domestic or industrial use and to run steam power plants.

Germany is the world’s leading producer of PV and solar heating technology and energy. In 2006 alone, 968 Megawatts (MW) of PV was installed in Germany. Japan, which added 292 MW last year, is also an important market and exporter of PV technology. China is aggressively adding solar systems to its energy mix. The country already consumes half of all solar-heated water in the world, and aims to increase solar water heater coverage by 50 percent by 2010. China is also emerging as an important producer and consumer of PV cells, which the government is integrating in remote and urban area.

Energy Output

The energy output of photovoltaic and solar heating depends on the size location of the system. Most areas receive ample sunlight, but deserts that seldom get cloud cover are better suited for solar energy production.

Standard PV cells have an energy conversion rate of 6 to 8 percent, meaning that 6 to 8 percent of all solar power absorbed is turned into energy. Some prototypes have already achieved conversion rates of more than 40 percent, but are still too expensive for mass-market production. Solar heaters utilize solar collectors that are significantly more efficient. Current collectors turn between 60 to 70 percent of absorbed sunlight into heat.

Concentrated solar thermal systems use mirrors to reflect sunlight onto a tower, producing extremely hot temperatures to boil water or other fluids and produce steam to drive a thermal power plant. An 11 MW concentrating solar power plant was completed near Seville, Spain in March 2007. A 154 MW facility is planned in Australia, and a 500 MW system in California’s Mojave Desert.

Environmental Impact and Drawbacks

Manufacturing and installing solar systems requires energy, and as with almost any industrial activity, involves handling hazardous materials, such as arsenic and cadmium. Mass production of PV cells is sometimes marred by shortages of quality silicon. Large-scale solar power plants also take up lots of land.

Overall, however, the environmental impacts of switching to solar energy are positive. Solar heaters require significantly less fossil energy input than natural gas and electric systems. PV systems are cleaner energy producers compared to coal and oil. Greenhouse gas emissions of solar PV plant including production and installation are eight times less than that of a coal-fired plant.

The initial costs of solar heating and PV systems, however, prevent many homeowners from installing them. But falling costs and subsidies have helped sustain market growth in some countries. Like with wind turbines, another technical problem is effectively storing solar energy to provide power throughout nights and cloudy days.

Originally posted 2010-04-24 06:22:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

          

What exactly are Solar Panels? We’ve all seen them at one time or another in many different places. Solar Panels are basically solar cells that capture sunlight and actively turns it into electricity.

Solar Panels installed on your home usually produce about about 2 amps at 2 volts (in direct sunlight.) However, over time the solar cells of the solar panels start to wear down. The quality of the panels, and materials used to build them rely on how long they will last. So, when chosing solar panels, go for dollar/watt ratio rather than the size of the panel itself.

Living “off grid” is easy and exciting if done correctly! If you produce more power than you consumer you’ll literally have your electric meter spinning backwards, and instead of YOU paying the power bill, the electric company itself will pay you (buying back the unused power produced by the solar panels.

In order for all of this to happen, you’ll not only need the solar panels, but a Synchronous Solar Panel Inverter.  The Synchronous Solar Panel Inverter is used to produce a “dynamic” between the solar cells of the solar panels and the power grid. It also comes in handy in case your panels become damaged, or unusable, this way you can still use the citys power.

So, homemade solar panels are not only economicable, but they can be a fun weekend project with the right materials at your side!

Go green and save a ton of money… build solar panels … Its as easy as that!

Originally posted 2010-04-23 22:59:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

          

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.

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 $7.50 to $4.00 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 $15,000 to $20,000.

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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Originally posted 2010-04-26 13:21:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

          

‘Building Your Own Solar Panels Has Never Been Easier And More Financially Sustainable! This Information Is For Anyone That Wants To Cut Their Dependence On Electricity And Use Alternative Methods For Power!’.
Green Earths Energy: Build Amazing Solar Panels Yourself!

Originally posted 2010-04-25 23:00:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

          

Every day, households around the world are using up the planet’s resources for energy. If this continues, these energy sources will be depleted quickly -unless alternative renewable energy sources are utilized.

One of the energy sources that modern technology has recently put to good use is solar energy. Solar energy isn’t anything new, but new technology advancements have placed solar power more into the mainstream, and it may one day be one of our primary sources of power. -

Advantages of Solar Energy

Since solar energy comes directly from the sun, it is not only renewable, but also accessible in any part of the world. As long as the proper equipment is utilized, unlimited amounts of solar power can be collected and put to good use.

Solar power is also one of the cleanest forms of energy, since it creates no pollution, and produces no greenhouse gases or waste products. For residential uses, the use of solar power minimizes negative impacts on the surrounding environment, making it a safer alternative to wind or hydro power.

Not only is solar energy non-pollutant, in terms of gases, but it also causes zero noise pollution – since there are no moving parts in any of the devices which are used to capture the sunlight. Due to the fact that no moving parts are used, maintenance costs are low as well – only occasional cleaning and periodic battery replacements are needed. Most manufacturers of solar panels provide twenty-year warranties for their equipment, guaranteeing long-life operation.

Solar panels placed on rooftops also double as a heat absorbers, slightly cooling the top area of the house which is directly below the roof.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

The most obvious drawback of solar energy is its sole dependence on the sun. Once the weather becomes cloudy, or night strikes, energy collection comes to a halt. However, recent advancements of technology now allow the generated power to be stored in special batteries which provide roughly enough electricity to last a night.

This is why solar-powered devices, including flashlights, are gaining in popularity and are proving to be efficient energy savers. Solar panels can also be expensive, because of the materials that are used to create them. And even when these materials are taken out of the equation, the entire process, considering the other devices involved, can be a bit costly. This includes portable devices that utilize solar energy. But most of the cost involved is in the initial purchase and installation of a solar power system – not running costs.

Fortunately, there are some people who sell damaged solar cells, which are much cheaper. These damaged solar cells can be used to build fully functional solar panels, using the application of simple do-it-yourself techniques. Although in every part of the world, there is at least some point in time when the sun shines, it is also true that direct sunlight is needed in order to make the most of the sun’s energy – and to generate the highest amounts of power. This significantly restricts the placement of solar panels. And some areas in the world may receive little benefit, due to lesser sunlight.

What’s the Bottom Line?

More research and development continues to be invested into this growing technology, and that’s a good sign for the future of our households – as solar power may one day be used more frequently than other energy sources. Of course, solar energy isn’t perfect, but it makes a great complimentary addition to other energy forms.

          

Frustrated about increasing electricity-bills? “Building Solar Panels For Homes” System is probably what you need. The first impression may not reveal that, but this technique takes no more than just few days to be completed. Follow this report in order to hear more about the benefits that it provides.

Introduction

The ‘secret’ behind this unique “Building Solar Panels For Homes” System is about getting one of these special guides that walk you through each and every step on how to easily make Solar-Panels. Choosing a guide is probably one of the most important actions you need to take; make sure it provides clear information including videos, diagrams, and support. In any case, here are few key-benefits and & quick advices that can help you to know a little more about this topic.

Quick advantages

Going down to the bottom-line we notice the following benefits:

* No more power-interruptions.
* Helps on reducing the amounts of carbon dioxide in the air.
* Can produce 1000 Watts +.
* Using as much power as needed without worrying about the elec. Meter.
* Should you create more energy than needed; the power-company will actually pay you!

Advice

Did you know that it is possible to get the paneling at no cost? – Most professional guides will show how to do that.

Bottom line

When we constantly look for immediate and affordable ways to ‘cut’ our elec. expenses, no doubt that “Building Solar Panels For Homes” System is one of the most revolutionary ideas that can help us achieve that goal. If we go a little further, it wouldn’t be that hard to discover other pluses provided by this unique ‘machine’, simply because it is highly-effective. It is advised to watch it in action in order to explore and see how it’ll affect your monthly/annual budget.

          

In this day and age of growing technology, scientists are working diligently to find ways to harness solar energy in order to power the Earth. Producing cars and products powered by solar energy will reduce the emission of harmful gasses and chemicals into the atmosphere. Our Earth is a precious commodity and we need to take care to protect it.

What is solar energy? Solar energy is radiant heat and light that is emanated from the Sun. This light helps to influence the climate on Earth and allows not only humans and animals – but also fish to live. Solar energy has been harnessed for power since the ancient times by humans through the use of different technologies.

The Earth can receive 174 petawatts of solar radiation or insolation in its upper atmosphere. Close to 30% of that is reflected back into space and the rest is absorbed by the clouds, land masses, and the oceans. The spectrum of solar light on the surface of the Earth is predominantly spread across near infrared and visible ranges and a small part in the near ultraviolet. The solar light that is absorbed is able to heat the land surface, atmosphere, and oceans.

Solar energy as well as hydroelectricity, wind, and wave power make up 99.97% of the renewable energy that is available on the Earth. The total amount of solar energy that the Earth’s atmosphere, land masses, and oceans absorbs is close to 3,850 zettajoules a year. Studies show that in 2002 this was more energy in one single hour then what the world would use in a total year.

The amount of solar energy that the Earth’s surface can capture is so large that in a single year it will be twice the amount that we can obtain from non-renewable resources of oil, coal, and natural gas. Because of this consumers themselves are seeking to purchase their own solar energy systems to help save them money and to keep the Earth safe.

          

Panasonic Mulling Building Japan Solar Battery Facilities – Nikkei
Panasonic Mulling Building Japan Solar Battery Facilities – Nikkei

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