Home Solar Energy - Basics

Solar heating if often the first thing that comes to mind when you think of solar energy at home but this is not it's best use. At best, solar heating can support the main heating a little in colder climates whilst in places such as Australia and California it can be worthwhile, but then it's not needed so often.

The Technology behind Solar Energy

A number of technologies have been developed to make use of solar radiation. Some of these make direct use of solar energy for lighting and heating etc., while others produce electricity. They are:

1. A solar thermal energy collection system generates electricity a system of tubes containing a fluid and mirrors.

2. Solar thermal collectors which are used to make heat.

3. Photovoltaic panels which generate electricity directly from sunlight. However, they generate D.C. current, which has to be converted to A.C. if you want to use it in the home. This would requires a large surface areas to provide enough energy for a single home. This is why solar panels are rarely used for residential heating.

4. Solar hot water panels which are commonly used in the home for water heating.

How Efficient are Solar Panels?

Solar panels are only efficient when they receive direct sunshine producing very little power in cloudy conditions or shade. However, it is the sunlight that generates electricity. Solar panels used in very hot climates are less efficient than those used in sunny but cold climates because heat actually interferes with electricity production. Efficiency decreases when the temperature of the panel is more than 50 degrees centigrade.

Most energy is generated when solar panels are directly pointed towards the sun. So just how much power is produced also depends upon the time of day since the sun's angle differs. Usually the best choice is to incline the panel although on shady days, horizontal mounted panels are better.

The use of solar power tends to fall in and out of favor depending upon the potential savings when compared with other energy types. However, the equipment needed nowadays is 90% cheaper than it was thirty years ago and the technology has improved considerably. For example, homes with solar roof tiles can often produce more electricity than is needed. So overall costs are going down and consequently solar energy in the home is becoming more popular again.

Article Source: http://www.share.onlypunjab.com

Before your buy be better informed regarding solar power energy. Discover the disadvantages and advantages of solar energy and how useful it is for products like lights and heat.

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