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Solar power is one of the first things that comes to most people's minds when the subject of alternative energy comes up. Solar power first gained wide public awareness during the 1970's energy crisis, and while it may not be such a hot topic these days, solar technology has made great advances since then.
Solar Thermal Panels
Solar Electric Panels
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Solar Thermal Panels
The first widespread residential use of solar energy came in the form of solar thermal heating panels. By covering a system of copper pipes with a black heat-collecting surface beneath a greenhouse-style pane of glass, fluid inside the copper pipes can be heated with solar radiation and pumped through a baseboard heating system, used for household water heating or for heating swimming pools.
Solar Electric Panels
Photovoltaic (PV) panels, which use sunlight to produce electricity, are much more efficient for their purpose than their solar thermal cousins. They are also much more useful in northern climates. While the manufacturing process and the mechanism by which they work is more technical than solar thermal, they are much simpler to install and maintain in actual use. Following is an overview of the function and purpose of photovoltaic panels, as well as the many benefits they have in alternative energy systems.
Solar panels are one of the most popular sources of alternative energy for home power systems. Everyone sees some sun during the year, which means everyone can gain some benefit from solar power, whether to run a whole home power system, or just charge some batteries with free electricity.
Solar power is one of the simplest forms of renewable home power. Photovoltaic (PV) panels have no moving parts, and need no complicated control mechanisms. Solar panels are the closest thing to a "plug and play" independent power source you'll find.
The sun will be a reliable source of energy for the earth for billions of years to come. In our part of the world solar energy is available all year round, even when the sky is overcast. And thanks to technical progress everybody can now capture this energy for themselves — without causing pollution or other undesirable emissions.
Your advantage: The high efficiency of photovoltaics
Photovoltaics is the ideal way to use solar energy because technical advancements in the manufacture of solar cells mean that the precious energy of the sun can be converted into electricity in increasingly efficient ways. Compared to thermal solar collectors for domestic hot water, photovoltaics offers key technical benefits: First, solar cells are highly efficient even at low temperatures and with little sunshine. Secondly, electricity can be distributed in the home, used to power a variety of appliances and applications or simply fed into the electric grid easily and without complicated installation.
The principle: Collecting the energy of photons
The systematic development of photovoltaics commenced with the beginning of the space age. Solar panels have been used to power space satellites for more than 50 years. Since then the fundamental technology has been consistently further developed and refined.
Sunlight contains photons. When photons strike an atom, they cause single electrons to break free of the atom. The released electrons then seek to form a bond with new atoms. Solar cells are built up from several thin layers in an elaborate manufacturing process in such a way that the released electrons can only flow in one direction — to generate electricity.
The single solar cells made of silicon are connected into solar modules which can for instance be installed on the roof of a house. The solar cells generate direct current (DC) which is converted by an inverter into 230 volts alternating current (AC) for use in households. All of this electricity is fed into the electric grid of the local utility company and reimbursed accordingly.
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