One of the answers to the energy crisis is to apply solar power. Solar power is the energy source of the most powerful and freely available to us now. That is why production of solar energy kits more abundant.
Solar energy kits is slowly taking place in most of the different houses in the world. Householders feel easy, convenient and effective to obtain energy from the sunlight.
Executive Summary about Solar Fan by Peter I. Wilson
Solar power fans are very easy to install, and also completely free to run. The majority of solar powered fans have a built in solar panel. Why Should I use Solar Power Fans in my Attic?
The solar powered fans do not require any extra power which would make your electricity bill more expensive. The other really good feature about solar powered fans is that they’re really easy to install. Newer homes are including these solar powered fans as standard, however if you own an older style home then you should consider installing these fans. You can buy fans suitable for fitting into older style homes.
Adventures in microsolar supported by microelectronics and MEMS techniques
Representative thin crystalline-silicon photovoltaic cells – these are from 14 to 20 micrometers thick and 0.25 to 1 millimeter across.
Sandia National Laboratories scientists have developed tiny glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that could revolutionize the way solar energy is collected and used.
The tiny cells could turn a person into a walking solar battery charger if they were fastened to flexible substrates molded around unusual shapes, such as clothing.
The solar particles, fabricated of crystalline silicon, hold the potential for a variety of new applications. They are expected eventually to be less expensive and have greater efficiencies than current photovoltaic collectors that are pieced together with 6-inch- square solar wafers.
The cells are fabricated using microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques common to today’s electronic foundries.
Sandia lead investigator Greg Nielson said the research team has identified more than 20 benefits of scale for its microphotovoltaic cells. These include new applications, improved performance, potential for reduced costs and higher efficiencies.
“Eventually units could be mass-produced and wrapped around unusual shapes for building-integrated solar, tents and maybe even clothing,” he said. This would make it possible for hunters, hikers or military personnel in the field to recharge batteries for phones, cameras and other electronic devices as they walk or rest.
Sandia project lead Greg Nielson holds a solar cell test prototype with a microscale lens array fastened above it. Together, the cell and lens help create a concentrated photovoltaic unit.
Even better, such microengineered panels could have circuits imprinted that would help perform other functions customarily left to large-scale construction with its attendant need for field construction design and permits.
Said Sandia field engineer Vipin Gupta, “Photovoltaic modules made from these microsized cells for the rooftops of homes and warehouses could have intelligent controls, inverters and even storage built in at the chip level. Such an integrated module could greatly simplify the cumbersome design, bid, permit and grid integration process that our solar technical assistance teams see in the field all the time.”
For large-scale power generation, said Sandia researcher Murat Okandan, “One of the biggest scale benefits is a significant reduction in manufacturing and installation costs compared with current PV techniques.”
Part of the potential cost reduction comes about because microcells require relatively little material to form well-controlled and highly efficient devices.
From 14 to 20 micrometers thick (a human hair is approximately 70 micrometers thick), they are 10 times thinner than conventional 6-inch-by-6-inch brick-sized cells, yet perform at about the same efficiency.
100 times less silicon generates same amount of electricity
“So they use 100 times less silicon to generate the same amount of electricity,” said Okandan. “Since they are much smaller and have fewer mechanical deformations for a given environment than the conventional cells, they may also be more reliable over the long term.”
Another manufacturing convenience is that the cells, because they are only hundreds of micrometers in diameter, can be fabricated from commercial wafers of any size, including today’s 300-millimeter (12-inch) diameter wafers and future 450-millimeter (18-inch) wafers. Further, if one cell proves defective in manufacture, the rest still can be harvested, while if a brick-sized unit goes bad, the entire wafer may be unusable. Also, brick-sized units fabricated larger than the conventional 6-inch-by-6-inch cross section to take advantage of larger wafer size would require thicker power lines to harvest the increased power, creating more cost and possibly shading the wafer. That problem does not exist with the small-cell approach and its individualized wiring.
From left to right, Sandia researchers Murat OKandan, Greg Nielson, and Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, hold samples containing arrays of microsolar cells.
Other unique features are available because the cells are so small. “The shade tolerance of our units to overhead obstructions is better than conventional PV panels,” said Nielson, “because portions of our units not in shade will keep sending out electricity where a partially shaded conventional panel may turn off entirely.”
Because flexible substrates can be easily fabricated, high-efficiency PV for ubiquitous solar power becomes more feasible, said Okandan.
A commercial move to microscale PV cells would be a dramatic change from conventional silicon PV modules composed of arrays of 6-inch-by-6-inch wafers. However, by bringing in techniques normally used in MEMS, electronics and the light-emitting diode (LED) industries (for additional work involving gallium arsenide instead of silicon), the change to small cells should be relatively straightforward, Gupta said.
Each cell is formed on silicon wafers, etched and then released inexpensively in hexagonal shapes, with electrical contacts prefabricated on each piece, by borrowing techniques from integrated circuits and MEMS.
Offering a run for their money to conventional large wafers of crystalline silicon, electricity presently can be harvested from the Sandia-created cells with 14.9 percent efficiency. Off-the-shelf commercial modules range from 13 to 20 percent efficient.
A widely used commercial tool called a pick-and-place machine — the current standard for the mass assembly of electronics — can place up to 130,000 pieces of glitter per hour at electrical contact points preestablished on the substrate; the placement takes place at cooler temperatures. The cost is approximately one-tenth of a cent per piece with the number of cells per module determined by the level of optical concentration and the size of the die, likely to be in the 10,000 to 50,000 cell per square meter range. An alternate technology, still at the lab-bench stage, involves self-assembly of the parts at even lower costs.
Solar concentrators — low-cost, prefabricated, optically efficient microlens arrays — can be placed directly over each glitter-sized cell to increase the number of photons arriving to be converted via the photovoltaic effect into electrons. The small cell size means that cheaper and more efficient short focal length microlens arrays can be fabricated for this purpose.
High-voltage output is possible directly from the modules because of the large number of cells in the array. This should reduce costs associated with wiring, due to reduced resistive losses at higher voltages.
Other possible applications for the technology include satellites and remote sensing.
The project combines expertise from Sandia’s Microsystems Center; Photovoltaics and Grid Integration Group; the Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies Group; and the National Renewable Energy Lab’s Concentrating Photovoltaics Group.
Involved in the process, in addition to Nielson, Okandan and Gupta, are Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Paul Resnick, Tammy Pluym, Peggy Clews, Carlos Sanchez, Bill Sweatt, Tony Lentine, Anton Filatov, Mike Sinclair, Mark Overberg, Jeff Nelson, Jennifer Granata, Craig Carmignani, Rick Kemp, Connie Stewart, Jonathan Wierer,
George Wang, Jerry Simmons, Jason Strauch, Judith Lavin and Mark Wanlass (NREL).
The work is supported by DOE’s Solar Energy Technology Program and Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research & Development program, and has been presented at four technical conferences this year.
The ability of light to produce electrons, and thus electricity, has been known for more than a hundred years.
(in Olmedilla de Alarcón, Spain, 60 MW) Finished in September 2008. This power plant uses 162,000 average photovoltaic solar panel to deliver 60 MW of electricity on a sunny day. The whole factory was completed in 15 months at a cost of about 530 million U.S. dollars current exchange rate. Olmedilla built with conventional solar panels, which are made with silicon and tend to heavy and expensive.
(Spain, 50 MW) in 2008 Renovalia develop the power station in Puertollano, Ciudad Real, residential energy parks with an installed capacity of 50 megawatts (MW). The power generated here is equivalent to the annual domestic consumption of electricity of about 39,000 households. The energy produced here will replace the theoretical disposal 84,000 tons CO2/year or 2.1 million tons of CO2 over 25 years during the production.
(Portugal, 46 MW) Completed December 2008. This solar power plant is placed in the municipality of Moura, Alentejo, Portugal, one of the sunniest areas in Europe and besides one of the most economically depressed. The construction involves two stages, first with a built in 13 months and completed in 2008, and the rest will be completed in 2010, with a total cost of € 250 million for the project. The power plant will have an installed capacity of 46 mwp, by more than 376,000 solar panels. Nearly 190,000 panels (32 MW) installed in permanent structures, 52,000 (10 MW) in a single-axis trackers, which follow the sun in the sky, and further 20 MW of power capacity will be added during phase 2 project. This will occupy an area of 320 hectares (130 acres), producing 88 GWh of electricity per year.
(Germany, 40 MW) 550,000 First Solar thin-film CdTe modules. Completed in December 2008 Waldpolenz Solar Park, which is the world’s largest thin-film photovoltaic (PV) power system, built at a military air base east of Leipzig in Germany. The power plant 40-megawatt solar power system using state-of-the-art thin film technology. 550,000 First Solar thin film modules are used, which supplies 40,000 MWh of electricity per year. The investment costs for solar parks Waldpolenz Euro 130 million.
(Spain, 36 MW). Completed in October 2008, power plant that produces 34 GWh per year, which would own 12,000 households and prevent 375,000 tons of CO2. Facilities in seven acres and 172,000 panels houses. Project budget of about € 180,000,000. La Rioja, a region of Spain known for its wine, already covers 62% of electricity with enhanced resources.
Solar technologies is now highly developed, with some progress is being developed to be used every day.
Below 10 Solar Technologies to note:
Initial concept of light tubes developed by the ancient Egyptians, namely by direct use of natural light tubes with reflective material. This is the concept of the oldest and most widespread type of natural lighting of interior space.
Light tubes are also known as “tubular skylight”, “SunScope” or “Tubular Daylighting Device” allow natural light into the darkened interior room of buildings and houses. The people enjoy the natural lighting provided by skylights. However, skylights are often not evenly distribute the light, is the loss of a significant source of energy, and UV light can cause damage to the carpet and furniture. Light tubes, on the other hand, using the sun for lighting interiors without the shortcomings associated with conventional skylights. To prevent the danger of ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the carpet and furniture fading, UV inhibitors formed a dome roof on most models. Another bonus when choosing light tubes is that they provide far more heat slightly, as did the standard skylights. Because of the lack of acceptance of this heat, tubular skylights to save money on air conditioning bills during hot months.
Taking advantage of free sunlight as much as possible, the pipe hole collect sunlight from the roof dome light collector consists of an acrylic lens, bounce it to the bottom of a tube with a highly reflective interior coating, to pull the lens cap is similar to conventional recessed lighting equipment and diffuse sun light evenly throughout the interior rooms. The tube can be bent and adapted to drive around the garret or ceiling obstructions with small loss of light transmitting and can often be installed in less than three hours. Not like the ceiling of need roof to the ceiling of the timber-framed shaft and covered with drywall or wood panels, and the need for structural modifications, so installation is simple and relatively inexpensive.
Roof mounted dome made of high quality acrylic resin specially formulated to enhance the impact strength, chemical, weather resistance and high clarity.
Light tubes can be installed on almost all types of roof materials, including wood and asphalt shingles, concrete and ceramics, and metals. Thanks to a highly reflective coating on the rod, the tube can work efficiently from sunrise to sunset.
Most of the producers of glass tubular solar roof offers a 10-year warranty against defects in materials and post-installation cracks or discoloration. Tubes solar installation contractors generally offer a 2-3 year warranty for the installation of weatherproofing and storm protection.
The average size of the tubular skylight ranges between 10 and 21 inches (254 and 533 mm), diameter, which effectively light of 100-600 square feet (30,48-182,88 meters), interior space. The main factor in choosing a general measure of the distance between the roof rafters and / or ceiling beams.
Prices range from around $ 171.00 to $ 423.00. Installing a solar tube usually cost between $ 500 and $ 800. Both depend on the size of tubes and features installed.
Light tube options include:
Energy-efficient light tubes is an important part of the house and environmentally friendly buildings. Natural light effects on your physical, emotional and psychological well known as the rooms benefit from natural sunlight free will positively impact our environment for future generations. They are environmentally-friendly way to naturally brighten every room, a smart alternative to skylights and artificial lighting.
Executive Summary about Solar Collector by Armand Hadife
Solar energy is accessible in plentiful places around the world. This high temperature produced can be exploited for heating air or water in houses and buildings
Using solar energy is a natural and affordable approach for spaces or water heating. When using solar power for heating purposes you employ a device that will allow capturing the heat of the sun. This device is called a solar collector. A basic solar collector can be made with no difficulties.
The next step is to find a system to help circulate water or air inside the solar collector. In general, devices like fans and pumps are used to push air or water thru the solar collector and from the storage tank to the house.
For the novice, making a solar collector can be a difficult and demanding project. This is why solar collectors are broadly offered online and in solar products shops.
How to Build a Solar Collector
Executive Summary about Solar Collector by Mick Jeys
Building a solar collector is the best way to save money on electricity bills, and can be used to generate electricity or to heat water. The two most popular uses for solar collectors are to heat water and generate electricity.
Solar Collector To Generate Electricity
Typically known as a solar cell or panel, they are typically made from titanium dioxide, and create electricity through the photovoltaic effect. It is now very simple to build your own generator at home quite cheaply by substituting titanium dioxide with cuprous oxide.
Solar Collector To Heat Water
The most common example of this type can be seen in common solar hot water systems, where the hot water tank is actually up on the roof with the solar collector. Trials are being held in Germany to use solar heated water from the summertime to heat homes in the winter.
Article You May Be Interested In Reading: Garden Solar Lights
Executive Summary about Solar House by Ernest Jarquio
Environmentalists rejoice! What is this new technology that will help save the earth? Why, solar house plans of course.
What Are Solar House Plans?
Well, the new phase in home planning is the plan for a sun-powered home.
Environmentally-Friendly Materials
The designer begins by drawing out the floor plan, planing to use recycled materials, eco-friendly building supplies and Energy-Star electrical outlets. For instance, the concrete slab flooring stores solar heat during the sunny days, then releases it at night, keeping the house warm.
Insulation
The designer uses only eco-friendly items for these tasks, such as recycled wood and green material for the insulation. After all this is planned, they continue onward to Energy-Star appliances and other electronic devices.
Solar Panels
The other panels installed are the thermal water heaters, which provide hot water constantly for the entire home. This hot water is often more reliable than a traditional hot water heater, supplying plenty of heat for the laundry, kitchen and bath.
How to Plan Your House for the Sun
Executive Summary about Solar House by Naomi Kendell
Every house will gain heat throughout the day as the sun shines through its windows.
And during the night as the temperature drops, this same house will lose heat to the outside through its walls, windows and roof.
1. Orientation.
By facing your house to the south (in the northern hemisphere) you will gain the rays of the winter sun. Afternoon sun comes from the west, so rooms like the dining room and living room can be placed on this orientation. The southwest corner of the house will be the sunniest – winter and afternoon sun.
On the northern side of your house, place service rooms.
2. Window Sizing
Out of all the materials your house is made of, windows lose the most heat. There is a balance here, because windows allow sunlight into your house. However even triple glazed glass allows more heat to escape than a well insulated wall.
The first is where your windows face. If you have most of your windows on the northern side, these windows will not get much sun during winter. They will be losing heat, but not gaining solar energy.
There is an optimal ratio of windows:wall for every climate. For instance in temperate climates, a window to wall ration could be: 30% window area to 70% wall area. The other ratio is in windows and orientation.
3. Materials
For instance, highly insulated walls will keep the heat inside your house. When analyzing your heat loss through your windows, you can gain some leeway through insulation. This air forms and insulating layer, slowing down heat loss.
Another way to use materials in your solar house plan is to take advantage of heat storage. It is radiating heat. The floor is insulated underneath to prevent heat loss. A well designed thermal heat sink will stay warm all night long.
4. Shading
Shading is an important part of the solar house plan. This is important not only for heat gains, but for preventing heat gains. In temperate climates as well, shading can be used to keep summer sun out and let winter sun in.
Using our orientation principle: your house is facing south. During the winter the sun angles low and reaches far into the house. This same shading will allow winter sun into your house.
Your latitude effects the angle of the winter sun. In conclusion – solar house plans are a great way to design houses that are warm and comfortable to live in, and save you money off your heating and air conditioning bill.
Using Orientation, Window Placement, Materials and Shading, you can design a house that responds to its environment and creates its own micro-climate of comfort.
Article You May Be Interested In Reading: Charger Solar
Executive Summary about Solar Battery by Michael Motley
Batteries are separated into two categories, by application (what the battery is used for) and construction (how the battery is built). Deep-Cycle batteries are the battery of choice for most installations because of the way they are made. Deep-cycle batteries are made to be run completely down relatively fast, and recharged just as fast, constantly. The major applications for deep-cycle batteries are solar electric (PV), backup power source, and boat/RV batteries.
There are 3 main construction types at this time:
Flooded batteries are what most people think of when thinking of batteries of this size.
Gelled Batteries or Gel Cells are sealed, and some are valve regulated. They contain gelled acid that was gelled by adding silica gel, making like a battery acid jelly.
AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries are similar to the gelled batteries but they also have fiberglass mat between the plates of the batter, which is then filled with gel. These batteries are the premier choice if you have any concerns about spilling of battery acid.
The main difference in deep-cycle batteries is thicker plates. The thicker plates allow the deep-cycle battery to be discharged down as much as 80% over and over again. The battery with the thickest plates will last the longest
A battery cycle is one complete discharge and recharge cycle. How deep a battery is discharged directly affects its life span.
Battery Life
There are many variables to deep-cycle battery life. The standard flooded battery 1-6 years. In the deep-cycle family of batteries, the AGM has one advantage over the other two types in it’s class. There is a myth that you shouldn’t store batteries on concrete floors.
Battery Quick Facts
* Almost all batteries have to be cycled 10-20 times before being able to reach full capacity.
* Always keep vent caps on your flooded batteries when charging.
* Lead-Acid batteries do not have a memory. Use only clean water to clean the outside of batteries.
Solar Battery Technology
Executive Summary about Solar Battery by Anne Clarke
People are realizing that they can easily change the way that power is created. For two centuries the world has relied upon fossil fuel, mostly coal and oil, for almost every form of power. It lights our homes, powers our appliances and drives our cars. Unfortunately fossil fuels rely on combustion to release their power. Solar power is an effective way to harness the power of the sun, something plants have been doing for millions of years. It can produce more power during the day than the average home uses. Most houses will use less power during the day, and much less in the summer which is the peak power producing time for solar panels. To be effective this power must be stored somehow.
One popular way of storing solar power is by connecting the solar panels to the existing electrical grid, effectively turning it into a massive solar battery. At night power is taken from the grid as usual. Any power outages can still affect these solar panel set-ups, but no rechargeable batteries have to be used.
Rechargeable batteries are notoriously short lived and expensive. They either have low power flows for a long time with a good capacity, or they have high power flows for short times with poor capacity. Typical batteries, especially lithium ion, have high capacity for storing power, but deliver a weak output and recharge slowly. The ideal solar battery would be able to charge quickly, have a high density for storing power and be able to emit as much of that power as is needed.
Check out my other guide on Solar Light
