Solar Power Information

Solar Powered Products

In today’s society, solar power is becoming much more of a mainstay in our views of viable energy. It is growing in popularity again, even though the history of this form of energy dates back as far as 100 years ago. The solar power movement died with the birth of the industrial revolution, when fossil fuels became the mainstream energy source. However, in the 1970’s, solar power benefits were recognized and researched once again. Perhaps, the key to a solar powered future lies in knowledge, not just of the existence of solar power, but a clear understanding as to how we put it to use in our every day lives.

Solar power, in its simplest terms, is renewable energy that we obtain from the sun’s radiation. The sun is a colossal source of power, and when its radiation waves hit the earth’s atmosphere, the power that has been emitted fuels the growth of life on our planet. On a scientific level, the sun’s energy is measured in watts. Watts are units of power. Scientists have found that the sun produces approximately 1000 watts of energy per square meter. Now, if something other than plants can absorb this energy, and use it, we would be in business! We wouldn’t have to use other sources of energy that are non-renewable. Well, something has been developed that has made it possible to direct solar power for specific needs. Many devices have been created in the past to harness the energy of solar power, but none are nearly as efficient, or have come close to the invention of the photovoltaic tile.

We see these tiles all the time, but most people are unaware of what they do, how they make solar energy possible, and what the history behind them is. Photovoltaic tiles, or their more common name, PV tiles, were invented in the late 1800s. They were used in the 1950s for space travel. But advancements for common use of solar cells began after the 1970s oil crisis when the need for an alternative energy source was realized. The term ‘photovoltaic’ comes from the Greek word photo, meaning, derived from light. Voltaic represents the name of Italian physicist, Alessandro Volta, who invented the first battery, hence the word, voltage. Photovoltaic- produces voltage, from light.

Now we must understand how photovoltaic tiles are made and used. PV tiles are composed primarily of silicon. Positively and negatively charged pieces of silicon are placed under a piece of glass. When the sun reacts with the PV cell, neutrons are knocked off the silicon and are trapped by a magnetic field that is formed by the negative and positive pieces of silicon. Those neutrons are then connected to a circuit, by which electrical currents are formed. The photovoltaic cell is connected to a resonator that directs an energy flow for the solar power to be converted into alternating currents, or AC energy. These currents can be used by our homes now, because AC power is the kind of electricity that most things conventionally run off of. Not only are PV tiles able to generate electricity from direct sunlight, but from diffuse skylight as well. In a rather large nutshell, that is how we capture solar energy.

Solar panels can be mounted or installed on to a wide range of buildings. Tiles can be retrofitted to existing roofs, or even be integrated into the building of a new roof. Depending on the supplier, one may also find the option of side-cladding or window canopies available as opposed to standard roof shingle panels.

There are several ways to use solar power around the house, besides electric powering. You can use it to heat water, pools or central heating. If you live in an area where a net-metering program is available, you can receive credit for the power you don’t use. This means if you have plenty of roof space that gets a lot of sun, a grid-tie system allows you power your entire house and sell your power back to the grid when you create an excess of electricity. When done efficiently, a solar powered home can create 75-100% of its own energy. This can result in drastically lower electric bills, or even not having to pay at all! If you decide to switch to solar energy, learn the facts about incentives in your area.