Solar energy has proven to be extremely beneficial, not only for the environment but also from an economic point of view. Therefore, installing solar panels is positive since:
They enjoy non-polluting ecological energy:
It is clean and inexhaustible energy. Solar energy guarantees us that there will be no harm to our quality of life and the environment.
They provide a renewable and abundant resource:
We have approximately 12 hours of sunlight. It is an energy that does not produce pollution since it does not burn substances that later release toxic gases into the atmosphere.
Reduce electricity costs:
The use of solar energy is a great benefit since it eliminates the total dependence on an electricity supply company and the cost of the service is reduced.
The maintenance process is simple:
Cleaning the solar panels can be done twice a year.
Installation is quick and easy:
Under standard conditions, installation can take one or two days. In addition, without major disturbances in family life. For commercial and industrial plants, much will depend on how many workers will be employed and, in the case of residential installations, on the complexity of the roof.
It works 24 hours a day:
The sun is an inexhaustible source of energy throughout the planet. Although it is cloudy, the system captures solar radiation. It is important to note that solar energy may be the only energy option in remote areas.
They increase the economic value of a home:
Since you would be independent of breakdowns or failures of the national network and your home or business could continue to function without interruptions.
It is an easy-to-manage system:
After the photovoltaic panel system is installed, just prepare to press the switch.
Why install solar panels?
If you have the possibility, installing photovoltaic panels is an excellent idea from an environmental and economic point of view. The high reliability of the modules makes them resistant to weather and the passage of time (tests are carried out between -40 and +80°C, high humidity, and degrading electrical tests).
In fact, they are usually sold with a guarantee of 80% of the initial performance at 25 years. This is because they are a technology that is used in situations where reliability is a priority, such as powering aerospace satellites, and for safety applications such as light signals found on some highways.
In our article on everything, you need to know to buy Solar Panels Denver you will find more information about their use.
When should you install solar panels?
Photovoltaic solar energy is really profitable if you know how to take advantage of its full potential. The self-production of electricity is a considerable advantage, but it is not the only one. There are many reasons and advantages of using photovoltaic panels, but it is convenient to install this system when:
1) The cost of the electricity bill is very high.
2) The power supply is unstable.
3) There is no connection to the national power grid (for example, in very remote places).
4) Other energy sources are very expensive or polluting (for example, gas, gasoline, or diesel power plants).
5) The maintenance of the photovoltaic system is minimal: it is recommended to clean the panels at least once or twice a year. This way you always ensure high performance for your system.
6) There are legal and/or economic incentives (credits or financing to install solar panels, tax reduction, and the possibility of selling energy to the grid or to third parties, among others).
What are the uses of a solar panel?
The main use of a photovoltaic panel is to generate electricity. There are two technologies that take advantage of the sun’s energy, with completely different functions, and these are: solar photovoltaic and solar thermal. While the former is intended for the production of electricity, the latter uses the sun’s energy to produce hot water.
The photovoltaic solar panel uses the sun’s energy to produce electricity and reduce the electricity bill. The best-known fact about solar energy is that it represents a clean and green source of energy.
We often associate solar energy with electricity, which is acquired through photovoltaic panels, but it is also possible to use the energy generated by the sun for purposes of heating buildings such as domestic hot water. This process is achieved by implementing solar thermal systems that simply convert solar energy into heating solutions.
How do solar panels work?
Photovoltaic cells are devices capable of converting solar energy directly into electricity thanks to the photovoltaic effect. Several solar cells can be assembled together in a panel forming a photovoltaic module, of which they are therefore the basic element. And finally, the solar panel system is made up of wiring, supports, inverter, and batteries.
Solar panels work by allowing photons from the sun’s rays to free electrons from atoms inside photovoltaic cells to generate a flow of electricity. Each panel is made up of many solar cells linked together (usually 60 or 72). Each cell contains a positive and negative layer that combine to form an electric field in which energy is created.
The phosphorous within the top layer of silicon creates the negative charge, while the boron in the bottom layer provides the positive charge. The two fields interact with each other to convert the sun’s rays into a direct current that flows from your panels to your inverter to become an alternating current for use in your home or business.
What are solar cells and how do they work?
Solar cells are made of silicone, like semiconductors. They are built with a positive layer and a negative layer, which together create an electric field, like in a battery.
The main function of the cell is to generate electricity. Silicon crystal solar cells have relatively low equipment costs, but the photoelectric conversion efficiency is also high, which is more suitable for solar power generation.
Photovoltaic cells are the primary elements that trigger the physical reaction capable of creating a direct current electric field. More precisely, when hit by sunlight, the panel generates, from the charge differentials between two layers of silicon, direct electric current. The latter, to be used by ordinary users, must be converted into alternating current through the inverter.
How many solar panels are needed to power a house?
One of the first steps to take when deciding to install a photovoltaic system on your roof is to size the system, based on the electricity bill, that is, your actual consumption. The calculation can be made by technicians, based on our daily needs and average monthly consumption, in order to optimally compensate for our spending.
The size of the solar panel system depends on how much of your electricity usage you want to cover with them and how much space you have. Most plants for single-family homes have up to 6 kW and occupy between 15 to 40 square meters. Specialists can carry out a load study during the consultancy or technical visit.
solar panels
The panels must be placed correctly, orienting them so that they receive the greatest amount of solar radiation possible. It is necessary to establish which is the best position on the ceiling, that is, where the exposure is longer, while the ideal inclination, approximately, is around 30°-35°.
Once the installation of the photovoltaic panels has been decided, it is necessary to evaluate how much space is necessary for the self-production of energy. A family tends to consume around 3 thousand kWh per year which can be produced by panels placed on 25 square meters of the surface of a traditional pitched roof.
Online solar panels
The size of the photovoltaic panel and, consequently, the number of panels necessary to cover the required surface, varies according to the models, brands, type, and power of the photovoltaic panel.
In reality, the price can vary and be determined by several factors:
– Family members
– Exposure of the property
– Type of panel to install
– panel size
– Required power
What type of solar panel is more efficient?
Are you thinking of buying solar panels, but you don’t know what type to choose?
Both monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels are a good options and offer similar benefits. Also, polycrystalline solar panels tend to be less space efficient, and monocrystalline solar panels tend to produce more power. It would be almost impossible to recommend one or the other without having examined your particular situation (area, zone, place, climatic conditions) more closely.
For those looking for the most efficient photovoltaic panels for their solar energy system, the first thing to know is how to compare the different brands of photovoltaic panel manufacturers. Solar panel efficiency is a useful metric used to determine how much power one solar panel produces compared to the others.
– Photovoltaic panels:
Many consumers and people in the solar industry consider energy efficiency to be the most important criterion for evaluating the quality of a solar panel.
Energy efficiency represents the ability to achieve a result using less energy and using it in the best way. That is, the higher the energy efficiency, the greater the energy savings.
Increasing the efficiency of your energy systems, in our case photovoltaic panel systems, allows you to save energy, reduce the fixed and variable costs of your business and obtain environmental benefits. Although it is an important criterion, it is not the only one to take into account when considering installing a particular photovoltaic panel.
How to choose the type of solar panel?
Solar panels vary in size and power, here you will find the most used types:
Photovoltaic panels consist of silicon cells that collect the sun’s energy to transform it into alternating current. It is the most used panel in self-consumption structures and can be in two forms: monocrystalline or polycrystalline. This type of panel has different applications depending on the climate and the profitability you expect in each case.
Types of photovoltaic solar panels:
Monocrystalline panels:
Solar panels made up of monocrystalline cells are considered a premium product. They provide better aesthetics and more efficient energy production. It is made of monocrystalline silicon, hence its name. 5 Tips for Choosing the Right Foundation
Polycrystalline panels:
These solar panels are a versatile and cheaper option, they come in different sizes and colors, and these are also suitable for both home and large installations.
Amorphous silicon panels
Panels with amorphous silicon are the ones with the lowest performance and also the lowest cost. Instead of pure silicon, they use silicon powder.
– Thermal panels
Thermal panels are less common and are mainly used in community installations to generate heat or steam. It is important to point out that there are high, medium, and low-temperature collectors.
