Solar energy is the cleanest and inexhaustible of all known energy sources. Solar energy is nothing but the light, heat and other radiation that is emitted from the sun. Solar radiation holds huge amounts of energy and is responsible for almost all the natural processes on earth.

Solar Light panels are completely free standing. Simply fit the light components collectively, press the spike into the ground or screw on to the wall mounting, it really is that simple! Power is provided by solar panels, located tactfully on the head of the lights.

During the day the lights charge up with free solar energy via the solar panels collecting power from both sunlight and daylight. The energy is stored in long-life NiCad batteries (supplied) integrated into the lamp body. Often, these lights are designed to turn on automatically at end of the day, providing an enhancing effect through-out the night, and then charge up again during the day. All weather design ensures that Solar Lights are not affected by unfavorable weather conditions ensuring years of pleasure.

Science behind the working of Solar Light Panels:

The system operates just like a bank account. Withdrawals from the battery to power the light, source must be compensated for by adequate deposits of energy from the solar panels. Provided that the system is designed so deposits exceed withdrawals on an average daily basis, the battery remains charged and light source is consistently powered.

Features of our Solar Light Panels:

1.Automatic sunset sensors operate light at evening.
2.Strong design ideal for year round outdoor use.
3.Solid state Light Emitting Diodes give 20,000 hrs life.
4.These are the very economical lighting system.
5.Sun is a direct source of energy for the solar panel.
6.The battery is recharged during the day by direct-current (DC) electricity produced by the solar panel.
7.The light source is powered by the battery each night.
8.The electronic controls are used between the battery, light source and solar panels to protect the battery from overcharge discharge, and to control the timing and operation of the light.

Why to opt Solar Lights:

•Solar Lights are the very economical. As the cost of energy is always on the rise, every person is looking for more affordable options. Solar light panels are not only affordable but can be operated from natural sunlight, which is available for free for you. The natural sunlight provides the power for solar lights to work. They do not require electricity or gas. As this power is generated without using any external energy source, your energy bills will be much lower. Solar lights are the most reasonably priced type of outdoor lighting that you can find anywhere.

•No trenching, no metering, no wiring.

•A most important consideration is that these lights will not use up other energy resources. As electrical power and gas power are not needed, using solar light means that you are going green and you are doing your part to make sure that these resources are not depleted.

•These lights will get just the right amount of power to make them completely effective. These lights are not overly bright or very dim light that is essentially useless, but are completely effective.

•Solar light panels are easy to install. You will not require to waste money hiring a professional to do it. You can have your lights suitably installed and in great working condition in no time at all.

•Solar lights also look great. There are several different styles available that it will be effortless to find the style best suited to your needs. Whether you are looking for something modest, stylish, to blend in with the natural environment or to give a bold contrast, there is one accessible for you.

•Solar light panels are both attractive and practical. These lights make your yard, streets, driveway, and walkway lit with just the right amount of lighting.

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider adding solar yard lights to your home. They are the best choice for outdoor lighting available today. Let’s try to get out of this ferocious treadmill of paying hard earned money to the companies for their electricity. Make use of solar light panels and reduce your bill…….

Facts:

1.NASA estimated that the Sun gives or irradiates the earth 174 Petawatts (Pw) of solar energy every day. Out of this roughly 30% of energy is reflected back to space, and another major share is absorbed by our atmosphere. Even if we get only 10% of this energy which is about 17.4 Pw per day, it is still more than the whole daily energy requirement worldwide. [#1]
2.Solar light panels help in deterring crime and by using these lights, you can augment the visibility of your place thus augmenting the safety of people who walks along the pathway while taking the benefit of reduced electric bills.[#4]
3.Do you know out of total solar radiation that falls on our solar panel how much energy does our Solar cell absorb? Sorry to say that our simple solar panel can absorb only about 14 % or less.
4.Solar energy is sustainable, clean and green energy.
5.The batteries incorporated on Solar Lights panels are recharged during the day. The battery used is so efficient that it can hold power all through the whole night which is usually for 12 hours.[#4]
6.Solar energy with the help of developing technologies play an important role in reducing greenhouse gasses and helps in stimulating the economy.
7.Solar Energy is measured in kilowatt-hour. 1 kilowatt = 1000 watts.
8.1-kilowatt home solar system consists of about 10-12 solar panels and requires about 100 square feet of installation area. [#2]
9.Solar thermal technology can also create electricity by creating steam to power generators.
10.In 1990, a solar powered airplane flew across the U.S.[#2]

11.The “solar panel” accounts for between 40-50% of the total cost of an installed solar energy system. [#2]

12.During the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci already had plans for solar concentrators in his notebooks.
13.In just one hour, the earth receives more energy from the sun than the entire world uses during a whole year.[#3]

14.Solar energy can produce lighting for indoor or outdoor use. It can be used to heat swimming pools, power cars, and small appliances. You can even cook food with solar energy.
15.According to a global price survey, solar energy prices have declined an average of 4% per year for the past 10 to 15 years.
16.A 1-kilowatt home solar system will prevent approximately 170 lbs. of coal from being burned, 300 lbs of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere and 105 gallons of water from being consumed each month! [#2]

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Solar Attic Fan provides attic venting which is an important aspect in maintaining a healthy energy efficient home. Proper venting cools your roof which not only extends the material life but also reduces the load on your air conditioning system. Attic venting also increases fresh air flow which reduces moisture build up produced by every day activities like showering and cooking.

Excess moisture trapped in your attic can cause many problems like rust and rot, increased bacteria and mold counts which can have a direct impact on your respiratory health. Solar attic fans simply change the grid energy source with free solar energy. They run when the sun is shining and adding heat to your house. They can be installed wherever unobstructed sunlight is available for their solar modules.

How Solar Attic Fan Work:

An electric fan to cool off an attic space is not a new concept. Many households use fans to drive out excess heat that builds up under the roof. These fans are typically connected to household AC power using thermostatic switch. The principle behind this is simple as air trapped under roof becomes very hot. By conduction, that heat passes into the rooms through their ceilings, resulting in increase of the temperature of the house. This in turn resulted in an increased use of air conditioning. By exhausting hot air from the attic space, attic fans trims down the need for air conditioning, saving money and energy in the process.

Benefits of Solar Attic Fan:

Lowers attic temperature:

Solar Attic Fans lowers attic temperature which results in reducing the load on the HVAC System. The most important reason for attic ventilation is to lower attic space temperature in the warmer months. Attic area can get very hot during summer days. Proper attic ventilation can help in reducing the temperature. Regardless of how much insulation is in the attic, heat can even then transfer into adjacent living spaces. Actually, extra insulation can add to temperature as heat is trapped in the insulation. Proper ventilation removes this excess heat build-up and hence helps in reducing the work load of the air conditioning system, thereby saving energy.

Prevents ice blocking in colder climates:

Heavy snowfall can generate ice wall that cause a roof to leak along the attic. Wintertime ventilation can help to avoid moisture build-up in the attic space which can dampen insulation, reducing its effectiveness, or contribute to mold growth, peeling paint or flaking plaster. Moreover, the heavy weight of the ice that fills the rain gutters can rip off the gutters. The best way to prevent this is through proper attic ventilation.

Extends the life of the roofing materials:

In the cooler months, moisture is the main concern. In spite of using vapor barriers to keep moisture from entering the attic, there are air leaks in the region of ceiling light fixtures, bathroom exhaust fans which allows unwanted moisture into the attic. Moisture condensing on the roof deck can lead to the growth of mold, mildew and rot in the roof deck and framing.

Attic ventilation evacuates the warm moist air that heat sources produce. Hot moist air enduring in the attic spaces can condense on the roof sheathing and rot it out and can also cause mold to build up on the interior walls.

Why to opt Solar Attic Fans:

• Because solar attic fans cost nothing to operate, and are more affordable to operate than conventional powered attic fans.
• By reducing attic temperature, attic fans helps to reduce summertime cooling loads at the same time provides ventilation without added utility load.
• Solar attic fans are easy to install and doesn’t have any wires hence eliminates the need for an electrician. You can easily install it using conventional materials, tools, and techniques
• Reduces cooling load on AC units
• Operates on free solar energy
• Adjustable solar panel

Facts:

1. Retail prices range from about $350 to $600 depending on ventilation capacity, manufacturer, and optional features of the unit, such as a thermostat.[#1]
2. Solar powered fans are fueled by the sun, so there is no cost of operation.
3. Attic temperatures can get up to 150ºF without an attic fan.[#3]
4. Attic solar fans can lower upstairs room temperatures by 10º.[#3]
   Attic solar fans help in lengthening roof life by keeping shingles cooler.
5. Attic solar fans save up to 30% on air-conditioning costs.
6. Attic solar fans are adaptable to any location, roof type, in any environment.
7. You can even cook food with solar energy.
8. Solar Energy is becoming more and more popular. The worldwide demand for Solar Energy is currently greater than supply.
9. Solar energy can also be used to heat swimming pools, power cars, for calculators and other small appliances. It produces lighting for indoors or outdoors.

10. Solar energy is responsible for weather patterns and ocean currents. [#2]

11.  Clouds, pollution and wind can prevent the sun’s rays from reaching the earth.[#2]

12. Sunlight travels to the earth in approximately 8 minutes from 93,000,000 miles away, at 186,282 miles per second.[#2]

13. The sun is also the main source of non-renewable fossil fuels (coal, gas and petroleum), which began life as plants or animals     whose energy came from the sun millions of year ago. [#2]

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With the upcoming increase in electricity rates and the green movement pushing alternative energy sources, the solar power industry has become a booming business. Many people are considering solar power as a way to break free of the conventions and whims of their electric company and be self sufficient when it comes to powering their home.

However, you don’t have to go completely off the grid to power your home with solar energy. In fact, most people who install a solar power system will stay tied to their electric company’s grid as a precautionary back up system. You see, when people go “off grid,” it means they cut all ties to their power company. They are no longer plugged into the power grid and rely solely on the power they generate through their solar panels. While the feeling of being self-sufficient is a great feeling to have, the people who do decide to go off grid completely are missing out on some exciting benefits that come with staying tied to your power company’s grid system.

Even though you install a solar power system on your house, it’s advantageous to stay connected to the grid for many reasons. One reason is simply the feeling of comfort you get from knowing that on the days where you may not generate enough power for your home, you still have the ability to draw power from your electric company. This keeps the power going no matter what it’s like outside. In times of stormy weather or days with less daylight, when your solar panels may not power up completely, you still can have electricity.

Staying tied to the grid can also give you the benefit of simply reducing your electric bill. If you can’t afford a total solar power system, there is the option of adding panels a little at a time as your budget allows. Even just a little bit of solar power to generate electricity for your appliances can make a significant dent in your electric bill. Some people only use solar power to generate electricity for the things they know pull the most power such as the central air conditioning unit.

Another advantage of staying tied to your power company’s grid system is the ability to generate electricity for the grid. If you are tied to the grid, and you generate excess electricity, that power doesn’t go to waste. It will feed back into the grid and your meter will roll backwards. This helps provide energy for your neighbors and also gives you some extra income at the end of the year. That’s right! The power company will pay you for any power your solar energy system provides to the grid. Each power company has their own rules and regulations on this, so check with them first on what their policy is concerning grid tied power. Watch the video below to learn more about the grid tie converter.

As we all know an increase in your electric bill is coming if it hasn’t already hit you. Electricity rates are jumping by at least 20 percent across the country, and you’ll see it hit hard in your electric bill once the rates have been established. Solar power tied to the grid can help offset these rate increases. Even if you only install a smaller solar power system, you can compensate for these rate increases with the amount of energy you produce with your solar panels.

And of course, another great benefit of solar power is being able to generate clean renewable power that is good for the environment. Even just a little solar power in your home can have a significant impact on the reduction of harmful toxins that are released into the atmosphere. Every little bit helps and by reducing the amount of power you use, you can do your part in the green movement.

Now that you know all of the benefits of grid tied solar power, you’re probably wondering how to get started. First, you need to decide just how much solar power you want to generate. Can you afford to power your entire house? Or do you want to just do a little at a time? Take a look at your last electric bill to get an idea of how many watts you use on a monthly basis. Then call your local utility company up to see what kind of programs or regulations they have about solar systems. Do they have a credit system? If so, then you may consider trying to install a complete solar power system on your home if it’s within your budget.

If you’re budget is low, under $1,000, then you will need to start out small. There are many do-it-yourself kits that you purchase online for about $200 that will allow you to set up your system by yourself. They usually come with one solar panel at a time, so you can gradually increase the amount of power you are generating as your budget allows. These can be frustrating thought if you don’t know what you’re doing. Make sure you do your research and if you are a technical person who can follow directions, you should be fine.

A good idea is to take the money that you are saving on your electric bill and start a fund for your next panel. Pretty soon, you’ll have enough to install several panels and increase your savings significantly.

you can check out that explain in more detail how to install these simple kits and even tie them together for more wattage output. Click on the video below to watch the first video of this series.

Solar power is the way of the future. With energy prices rising and the economy still underwater, becoming self sufficient and cutting your monthly bills is a necessity, and solar energy can give you the power to do just that. With just a little research, and a couple of phone calls to your local power company, you can begin providing your home with clean, renewable solar energy.

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In the hot days of July and August, when the sweltering summer sun is beating down on your roof, the heat slowly seeps into your home no matter how well your air conditioner works. It’s a hard fact to deal with, but most homes will experience a huge spike in their electric bill when the summer heat comes rolling in. The energy required to run the air conditioner in the summer can sometimes equal up to 70 percent of your total monthly electric bill! But there is a way to use the power of the sun to actually cool your home and save on your electric bill.

The answer lies in solar power, but it’s not what you think. It’s not as expensive or complicated a venture as installing solar powered panels on your roof or cutting yourself off from the electric grid. It’s as simple as installing a solar powered attic fan.

When the sun beats down on your home, it causes the air within your attic to heat up immensely. According to www.costhelper.com, the attic can often reach temperatures of more than 150 degrees in the summertime! No matter how well your attic is insulated, some of that heat is bound to seep through vents or cracks in your attic and enter your home. This causes your house to heat up and makes your air conditioner work overtime. If you have an older air conditioner, this can put undo stress on the unit and you may need to call your service repair man for costly air conditioner repairs.

Solar Attic Fan

Most homes have what are called passive vents on the roof. These are simply vents that are not powered by any kind of fan or circulation system. They rely on the air to make its way out of your attic on its own. This is obviously not a very efficient way to keep your attic cool. A solar powered attic fan, however, is a type of active ventilation that pushes the hot air out of your attic, reducing the heat stored there and cooling the attic by up to 10 degrees!

The solar powered attic fan was actually invented by a roofer named Bill Keith. Keith was working on his roof in 140 degree weather installing a traditional fan powered by electricity when he was shocked after he pulled off the end caps of the wiring. After that, he was determined to find a better way to cool his attic and save on his power bill. He then invented the solar powered attic fan that mounts on the roof and pulls the hot air from the attic. Keith says that by simply using this solar powered fan to cool your attic, you can save up to 30 percent on your monthly electric bill! For more information on Bill Keith’s story, you can check out a video here.

The solar powered attic fan relies solely on the power of the sun, so there’re no extra electric costs to worry about and it’s pretty simple to install. Check out this installation video on youtube.com done by Kevin O’Connor from the television show This Old House for more details on installation.

Generally speaking, installing a solar powered attic fan only takes about an hour, and it’s something you can install yourself if you’re technically inclined. If you’re a little hesitant, there are many professional installers available as well.

Installing a solar powered attic fan also provides another critical benefit to the homeowner. Daily tasks such as cooking and showering can create moisture in your attic space. This moisture can eventually lead to dangerous mold buildup that can be damaging both to your house and to your health. With a solar powered attic fan, the attic is kept cool and dry, thereby preventing excess mold growth.

When choosing a solar powered attic fan, the size and wattage will depend on the size of your attic. Solar powered attic fans can generally range anywhere from 10 watts which can ventilate about a 1,200 sq. ft. attic all the way up to a 25 watt systems which can ventilate up to 2,200 sq. ft.

A smaller unit costs around $500 while the larger units can cost up to $800 or more. While the costs may seem a little steep, it is a small price to pay to keeping your attic cool, your electric bill low, and your attic free of mold. According to the installers of Attic Breeze, if the solar powered attic fan is installed correctly and your house is well insulated, you should make your money back in one to two summers.

The solar powered attic fan also qualifies for the federal incentive program and qualifies you for a 30 percent tax credit on your purchase. This is great news for the home owner. Some people sometime confuse a tax credit and a tax deduction. A tax credit actually means that you will get that money back when you file for your yearly federal taxes. A tax deduction will simply deduct from your yearly income. Many states also offer additional incentives for solar powered products. To check what incentives may be available for your state, visit here.

There are several sites on the internet where you can order a solar powered attic fan. You can also research professional installers who can come to your house and first evaluate whether you are a good candidate for a solar powered attic fan. For example, any home that allows air to enter the living space freely or has a drop ceiling would not be a good candidate for a solar powered attic fan. There are several key manufactures of solar powered attic fans including The Sunrise, which was featured on ABC World News and was named the 2006 Best Product by BUILDERnews Magazine. Other notable manufacturers are Natural Light and Attic Breeze.

Beating the summer heat and employing free energy sources such as the sun will become crucial as the energy debates begin to heat up. Prices in electricity are predicted to jump tremendously within the next year or so and with just a small investment in a solar powered attic fan you can save up to 30 percent on your next electric bill and do your part in conserving energy.

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Harnessing the power of the sun is a clean and efficient way to power your home and to cut costs on your monthly electric bill. However, through the years, one of the primary problems and a huge objection to using solar power were the unsightly solar panels that are installed on the rooftops of residential homes. These panels were huge and covered the entire rooftop. All that is changing though, as the emergence of a new technology has created a practically invisible solar energy system.

Solar Shingles Roof Top

These new invisible solar energy systems are called solar shingles, and they blend seamlessly on to your roof. That’s because these “building integrated photovoltaics” can combine solar power with typical roofing materials such as slate, fiber-cement, asphalt, and metal. These solar shingles have a laminated semiconductor layer made of crystalline silicon that generates electricity when the sun hits the shingle. What that basically means is that the shingles have a transparent layer added to them that converts the sunlight into solar energy[1].

There are significant advantages to using this kind of solar energy conductor.

1. Solar Shingles Are Practically Invisible. Obviously one of the biggest advantages is that it’s practically invisible, so you won’t have to worry about bulky black panels the size of your dining room table attached to your roof that can be damaged pretty easily through the years. This eliminates any neighborhood complaints from your homeowners association or community and creates pleasant view of your home.
   

   solar Panels Covering a Roof

2. They Provide Clean Energy. Solar shingles provide the same clean energy that solar panels do. And, since the sun is a renewable resource, it’s an energy source that will never be depleted. Solar shingles are simply wired directly into your electrical system and can power your entire house for years.
3. You Can Sell Unused Energy. In more than 39 states across the country, if you have your solar energy system attached to the power grid, you can sell any unused power to your electric company. This makes your meter spin backwards. If, at the end of the year, your home has provided more energy to the grid, than it has used, you will receive a check from your power company.
4. You Can Qualify for Huge Tax Incentives. You can receive a tax credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of the installation of your solar shingles. This tax credit is currently available for consumers through 2016 for new and existing homes.
5. Increase the Value of Your Home. Having a solar energy system installed in your home is a great way to increase the value of your home. Especially when green and emission free energy is in such high demand.
   

   Installing Solar Shingles

6. Can Withstand More Abuse. Solar panels are prone to damage and can easily break or rust from wet climates. That’s because they are mounted on thick metal frames and are made of rigid glass. In areas such as Florida, which can have hurricane force winds during the summer months, solar panels can be easily ripped off the roofs and even cause damage to the roof itself. Solar shingles can withstand up to 80 mile per hour winds. They are as durable as the building materials they are adhered to.
7. Make Use of Wasted Space. According to Science Daily, if we begin to incorporate these solar shingles into the construction of new commercial buildings and residential homes, we can eliminate the amount of wasted roof space and optimize the solar shingles performance.

For an example of how easy it is to install solar shingles on your roof, take a look at this YouTube video. It goes into great practical detail about solar shingles and shows how the photovoltaic films bond to typical roofing materials like metal. It also demonstrates how the panels are installed and how the electric terminals can be directly fed into your home’s power system.

Although solar shingles are a great renewable energy alternative and have many advantages over the traditional solar power panels, there are still some disadvantages you need to keep in mind when considering installation of these systems.

1. Cost of Installation and Product. This is one of the major disadvantages of solar shingles. The cost of installing them can be steep. They are even more expensive than the traditional panels so make sure you keep this in mind. If you were already planning on installing a new roof, however, this might not be that much more of an added expense to incorporate the solar shingles.
2. No energy storage. If you live in an area prone to rainy days, solar power might not be the best option for you. Because solar power is only effective as long as the sun is shining, you won’t get as much power from your solar shingles. There is no energy storage on these systems, and you will have to rely on the power grid during storms or at night.
   

   PV Solar Rediation Map

3. Your roof has to be at a certain angle to catch the sun. For the solar shingles to catch the sun’s rays enough to generate electricity, your roof has to be at the right angle with enough surface area to power your electric. If your home has steep roof angles, or is under a lot of shade, you may not be the best candidate for solar power.
4. You have to Install Solar Shingles during New Roof Installation. Unlike solar panels that are just installed on top of your existing roof, solar shingles need to be incorporated into the installation of a new roof.
5. Still Visible. Although they are pretty seamlessly incorporated into the building materials, solar shingles are still visible.

If you’re considering solar shingles for your new roof, there are several places where you can purchase these materials. Although the demand has not yet reached some consumer markets and may not be available in certain areas.

Here are three manufacturers that offer solar shingles. These sites can offer you names of roofing specialists who are trained to install solar shingles.

1.      Kyocera Solar Inc. www.kyocerasolar.com

2.      Atlantis Energy Systems. www.atlantisenergy.org

3.      PowerLight Corporation. www.powerlight.com

4.      United Solar Ovonic. www.uni-solar.com

[1] Solar Shingles. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1205726,00.html

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In everyday life, we’re familiar with the power of the sun. The most common solar-powered device found in almost every household is the solar powered calculator – a device that seems to last forever with just a little light to help it out.

Solar power is literally the process of harvesting the sun’s rays and transforming them into energy called photovoltaics. However, this process has been fairly expensive in the past and has been the primary barrier for why this process is not used more frequently in total worldwide energy production.

An Untapped Reserve of Renewable Energy

Solar Panels (Solar power plant)

Solar power is one of the most abundant renewable resources in the world, but we’ve only just begun to tap the surface of this powerful energy source. Last year, less than .02% of the world’s energy came from solar power and only 2% of the world’s energy came from renewable resources at all 1!

But the trend is catching on, as the energy crisis and pollution issues continue to escalate. Just last year, two of the largest solar power plants were built – the 40 MW Waldpolenz Solar Park in Germany and the 46 MW Moura photovoltaic power station in Portugal.

Unfortunately, the United States has been slow to catch on to this trend, although significant research has determined that the southwestern deserts of the US could produce enough energy to power the entire country with absolutely no pollution 2!

Currently, the United States primarily consumes petroleum, natural gas, and coal – fuels that have extremely negative effects on the environment including greenhouse gasses and pollutants that cause acid rain.

The United States is responsible for more than 21% of the emission of energy-related carbon dioxide, which is the main cause of the greenhouse effect 3.

How Solar Energy Is Harvested

solar power collector - parabolic dish

Harvesting solar energy has seen years of experimental systems. The most popular type of system is the parabolic trough, which uses trough shaped mirrors to concentrate the sun’s rays on a receiver that heats thermal fluids to produce a type of super steam, which in turn produces energy. The first large-scale parabolic trough was built in the mid 1980s in the California Mojave Desert. See an example below.

Another type of solar thermal collector is the parabolic dish, which is used to focus sunlight on a receiver located near the center of the dish. That beam of energy is used to heat a fluid, which in turn generates electricity 4.

The solar updraft tower works like a large greenhouse where, when the air is heated, it expands and pushes the air into a central converter where it is turned into electricity.

The Solution for an Intermittent Energy Source

While these three technologies have been proven extremely successful, there is one obvious issue with harvesting solar power – the sun goes down at night.

Solar energy production throughout the year

Another issue with solar energy is that it is more abundant in hotter climates as well as during the hotter times of the year. For an example, take a look at the chart to the right, which displays solar energy production throughout the year at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California 5. As you can see, energy production was at its peak in the months of April, May, and June, while the lowest months were in December and January.

Because of the nature of solar energy as an intermittent energy source, something had to be done to supplement the times when it was not available.

A pilot project of the University of Kassel in Germany called the Combined Power Plant, combined solar energy use with other renewable resources and proved that solar energy can be used in combination with these other renewable resources to provide a reliable source of energy.

The Combined Power Plant links and controls 36 wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower installations throughout Germany. It was proven just as reliable as modern power plants and used 100 percent renewable resource with zero pollution 6!

Solar energy can also be stored.Three methods of solar storage are used today. The first and most efficient is made possible by molten salts, which is a liquid at atmosphere pressure, and can store energy at high temperatures. The second method is pumped-storage hydroelectricity, which stores the energy in the form of pumped water when there is surplus electricity available. As far as smaller residential systems go, if the system is off-grid, the energy is stored in rechargeable batteries. If the system is connected to the grid, excess power is fed into the grid and the owner benefits from earning credits from the power they supply to the grid, and, at the end of the year, the power company will pay for whatever excess power was used during that time.

The Economics of Solar Power

It’s true that, in the past, solar technology was extremely expensive and primitive at best, but recent technology has made significant improvements in harnessing this valuable resource. According to a recent article in Science Daily, the cost of installing these systems has decreased significantly over the last several years, especially in the residential market 7, causing an increase in the number of solar power systems installed today.

Soalr powered homes

This increase in solar energy systems in the residential market is also due to government incentives, which provide tax rebates for anyone who installs a solar energy system on their home and from the availability of green financing.

The number of solar energy systems installed in 2007 increased more than 46% and the number is steadily climbing 8. Take a drive through your local neighborhood and there’s a good chance you’ll find solar panels on at least one of the houses. While solar power units can be a hefty investment for the average homeowner, new technology is driving the costs down and giving clean energy a chance.

There’s even a recent move toward companies leasing solar panels to homeowners for a fraction of the cost! An average solar power system can cost upwards of $30,000 but these new companies are offering to install and maintain a solar power system for less then $1,000 9!

By taking advantage of this powerful renewable resource, we can create an unlimited source of energy that once solar plants have been established, can be a cost-effective and pollution-free way to harvest energy and limit our use of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum.

1. International Energy Agency, Monthly Electricity Statistics, 2009. http://www.iea.org/Textbase/stats/surveys/mes.pdf

2. David Comarow, “Here Comes the Sun,” Kyoto Planet Sustainable Enterprise Report, November 2008, Whitepaper.

3. Energy Information Administration, What Everyone Should Know About Energy, (July 2008).

4. GreenPeace.org. Concentrated Solar Power – Now. http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/Concentrated-Solar-Thermal-Power.pdf

5. Wikipedia Commons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ATTParkannualoutput.png

6. The Combined Power Plant: the first stage in providing 100 % power from renewable energy. http://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin/anlagejanuar2008_e.html

7. Science Daily. Cost Of Installed Solar Photovoltaic Systems Drops Significantly Over The Last Decade. 2009.

8. Time.com. Solar Power Hits home. 2008. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1830386,00.html

9. ABC News. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=6826154

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