With Solar Panels You Maximize Your Grid Security
When you purchase and install solar panels on your roof, and as a result, no power that is lost when the solar panels are converting the sunlight to energy.
However, some power sources like electricity are produced from a massive power plant and then transported to other small plants for distribution.
While carrying the power from the sources, there is a loss of power during this process, and hence the power that the consumers require is not enough for them issues like fewer power results to blackouts at any time of the day or night.
In case there is a blackout at night, there are high possibilities of external attack by enemies or even natural disasters like fire.
However, with solar energy, there are no blackouts since the solar panel stores its excess energy in batteries or even in power banks and is applicable at any given time.
Maximizing grid security is one of the reasons why many individuals have installed electric, solar panels in their homes even if they have electricity.
When there are blackouts, the solar panels automatically produce their power.
Schools and also hospitals also have improvised solar panels that are installed on the roofs to ensure that there is electricity throughout the day or night.
On The Other Hand: The Case For The Mandate
Energy wonks and practitioners have also offered a variety of arguments in support of the mandate.
1) Political will is not fungible.
It is an eternal verity of politics that any new policy is met by wonks explaining why other policies would have been better. But California advocates and policymakers do not get to pick and choose policies like theyre shopping at a supermarket. There was a coalition for this.
As the Washington Examiner writes, the change had broad support from home builders, state political leaders, and solar advocates. Also, the CEC was able to make the change without legislative approval. And the costs are concentrated on builders and homeowners rather than the broad public.
All of that is true of an extremely limited set of policies. The right question isnt whether this change is better than some fantasy wonk bill, but whether its better than other policies that actually could have passed or, more likely, the status quo.
2) The CEC probably overestimated costs.
The CEC drew its cost estimates from a comprehensive, top-down report on global clean energy trends from BNEF. But there are many reasons to believe that it is substantially overstating what rooftop solar will cost Californians. BNEFs report includes the solar rooftop retrofit market, but costs are much lower for new construction, especially as it scales up.
3) Scale will bring innovation.
4) Cost reductions bleed over.
7) Solar will become more visible, familiar, and contagious.
Solar Power Is A Free Source Of Energy
The sun provides us with more energy than we could ever use, and no one can monopolise the sunlight. Your solar power system will start saving money from the moment its turned on, however, the advantages of solar power are best visible in the long-term. The longer you have your solar power system, the more you enjoy the benefits of solar technology and support the environment.
Aside from solar electricity, solar energy has a second application. We often associate solar energy with electricity, which is acquired through PV panels, but its also possible to use the energy generated by the sun for heating purposes. This process is accomplished by deploying solar thermal systems that simply convert the sunlight into heating solutions.
The acceptance of solar technology is at hand and we can start by increasing our use of solar panels.
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Reasons Why Solar Energy Is Important
The sun is vital in helping to support life on earth. It continuously releases solar radiation, some of which will eventually reach the earth. We make use of this solar energy in a number of different ways. It helps to support life, can generate electricity and can even heat our water.
This article provides eight reasons why solar energy is important. Together, they explain how the sun has become one of the most important natural energy sources available to our planet.
How To Save Money Going Solar
One of the biggest advantages of installing residential solar panels is a 30% federal tax credit on the total cost of a system. That means homeowners but not renters can subtract the credit from the federal income taxes they owe, in effect reducing the price of their solar purchase by nearly one-third.
Congress authorized the credit through 2019, but it will decline to 26% in 2020 and 22% in 2021 and then disappear. The credit could save the average homeowner $5,000 or more , according to EnergySage, a solar marketplace with a calculator to help estimate savings.
It may seem obvious, but access to sunlight is important. If your roof is deeply shaded by trees, mountains or buildings, solar panels wont work well. Unsurprisingly, California leads the nation in residential solar capacity, but some of the others in the top 10 may surprise you.
Its important to have a basic idea of how the panels work as well. Also known as photovoltaic panels, they are mounted on the roof of a house and use sunlight to produce electricity. An important part of any solar system is a box called an inverter, which often is installed in the garage and converts electricity produced by the panels into the kind thats required to operate home appliances .
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Cash In On The Electricity You Dont Use
For most homes in the UK, solar panels generate so much solar power, homeowners dont know what to do with it all which is where the Smart Export Guarantee comes in.
The SEG requires licensed electricity suppliers to offer tariffs to small-scale, low-carbon generators, e.g. houses with solar panels. Any solar-generated electricity that doesn’t get used is sent back to the National Grid, and the household receives money in return.
The High Cost Of Solar Trash
The industrys current circular capacity is woefully unprepared for the deluge of waste that is likely to come. The financial incentive to invest in recycling has never been very strong in solar. While panels contain small amounts of valuable materials such as silver, they are mostly made of glass, an extremely low-value material. The long lifespan of solar panels also serves to disincentivize innovation in this area.
As a result, solars production boom has left its recycling infrastructure in the dust. To give you some indication, First Solar is the sole U.S. panel manufacturer we know of with an up-and-running recycling initiative, which only applies to the companys own products at a global capacity of two million panels per year. With the current capacity, it costs an estimated $20-30 to recycle one panel. Sending that same panel to a landfill would cost a mere $1-2.
The direct cost of recycling is only part of the end-of-life burden, however. Panels are delicate, bulky pieces of equipment usually installed on rooftops in the residential context. Specialized labor is required to detach and remove them, lest they shatter to smithereens before they make it onto the truck. In addition, some governments may classify solar panels as hazardous waste, due to the small amounts of heavy metals they contain. This classification carries with it a string of expensive restrictions hazardous waste can only be transported at designated times and via select routes, etc.
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You Can Use Solar Energy For Different Purposes
Did you know that you use solar energy for diverse purposes? You have the option to generate electricity or heat, whatever you want.
You can also use solar energy to produce electricity in those areas that do not have access to the energy grid. This means that these areas are in need of a number of resources, including clean water. Without the energy grid, solar energy makes it possible to distill water in areas that have a limited clean water supply.
Solar energy is more than capable of powering satellites in space. You can also integrate the energy into the materials that are needed for buildings. A little while ago, transparent solar energy windows were introduced by some companies as well.
Consider these best solar panels for your home to get started living more sustainably.
Why Arent Solar Powered Cars Practical
A typical home needs a solar array covering 500 square feet to produce as much power as the people inside need in a year. Ideally, those panels are placed on a south-facing roof with an optimum tilt of about 30 degrees, give or take a few.
A few years ago, we did the math on how many solar panels you need to charge an electric car. Looking at the Nissan Leaf, at 50 miles per day, we came up with a total of 3.44 kilowatts of solar panels. Some of the best home solar panels on the market make around 345 watts under full sun. Youd need 10 of them to make enough solar energy to power the Nissan Leaf, a small sedan, on its daily journey from work to home, if you drive 25 miles each way.
Thats 250 square feet of solar panels on IDEAL roof space in order to make that much energy.
Thats why solar powered cars arent practical. There simply isnt enough surface area on a car to allow the solar cells to generate enough electricity for the average driver, especially considering the surfaces of a car arent always pointed in the right direction or not under shade.
That impracticality isnt stopping automakers, though. At least a few of them have added photovoltaic cells under special glass on their cars. Some manufacturers add a solar roof or hood, and at least one also puts cells into the door and quarter panels.
Heres a bit more about solar car manufacturers:
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Figure Out How Many Solar Panels You Need
So, you know the size of the solar system you need to cover your energy usage. Now what? To figure out how many solar panels youll need, take the solar system size and multiply it by 1,000 to convert the size from kilowatts to watts.
Next, take the size of the system in watts and divide it by the wattage of the solar panels you want to install.
Voila! Thats the number of solar panels you will need to power your home.
Solar Is Accessible In Remote Areas
There are many remote areas in the world where it is almost impossible to access clean water and electricity. These areas are mostly found in underdeveloped countries, but that doesnt diminish the importance of the crisis. The good thing about solar panels is that they dont rely on anything.
Whether there are nuclear plants near the area or not, the solar panels work independently and only need to be installed.
There are many rural areas where people have understood the gravity of the situation and have installed their very own solar panels.
They produce clean energy, and there are no electricity blackouts in the house anymore.
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Youll Save Money On Camping Fees And Generator Fuel
Unlike the solar panels used for houses, solar panels for RVs are much smaller, meaning they put out less of a charge, but are also more affordable. Theres quite a range in what you might spend, especially since installing panels may require upgrading or installing other components.
Excluding any design and installation costs, you could spend between $1,500 for a basic system all the way up to $15,000 or more for a high-end system, Pursel says.
Compared to installing home-use solar panels which can range from $25,000-$40,000, installing solar panels for your RV is relatively affordable, especially if you spend a good part of the year in your RV versus your home.
Some things to consider when accounting for the price of RV solar panels are what youll use for backup power, what kind of energy needs you have, and whether you want a kit or permanent panels.
Once you have spent the initial investment for your solar power system, the freedom to camp without hookups will save you money on camping fees in the long run. Youll also be running the generator less, and be spending less money on fuel.
According to EnergySage, the cost of using a gas generator over time will exceed the amount you spend to install RV solar panels. They estimate the payback period to be under five years.
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How Does It Work
A solar panel usually works by allowing particles of light or photos , to free electrons from atoms, which then generates a flow of electricity.
These panels consist of many small units known as Photovoltaic cells .
Such cells, connected consecutively, make a solar panel.
The photovoltaic cell is made up o many different layers of materials, each with a purpose of its own.
The semiconductor layer is the most essential layer of the cell, which is made up of two different layers, usually silicon, P-type, and N-type.
Solar Power Can Use Underutilised Land
You may continue to wonder why solar power. With the increasing need of solar energy, its become easily accessible to most of us. Across countries, there are vast land that are far away from big cities or capitals, and are not used for anything at all.
With solar power, we can actually make use of the land and subsequently generate great value solar energy provides a source of power for everyone. In this way, we dont need to use high priced land that might be better suited for other applications.
You might have heard of solar farms – panels used to harvest solar energy in large numbers. This highlights perfectly how solar power makes use of underutilised land. For instance, a 45 acre solar farm has been recently built in the UK, and its able to power 2,500 homes.
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What Are The Different Types Of Solar Panels
The main types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-film and concentrated photovoltaic . With all factors being equal location, available space , shading, climate and natural degradation of the panels monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels are typically the best choice for residential energy needs. Thin-film panels are best for commercial buildings or satellites, and concentrated photovoltaic cell panels are used only on satellites and in research labs.
Solar Power For The Home: Costs
Solar power is capital intensive, and the main cost of owning a system comes upfront when buying the equipment. The solar module will almost certainly represent the largest single component of the overall expense.
Other equipment necessary for installation includes an inverter , metering equipment , and various housing components along with cables and wiring gear.
Some homeowners also consider battery storage. Historically, batteries have been prohibitively expensive and unnecessary if the utility pays for excess electricity that is fed into the grid . The installation labor cost must also be factored in.
In addition to installation costs, there are some further costs associated with operating and maintaining a PV solar array. Aside from cleaning the panels regularly, inverters and batteries generally need replacement after several years of use.
While the above costs are relatively straightforwardoften a solar installation company can quote a price for these for a homeownerdetermining subsidies available from the government and/or your local utility can prove more of a challenge. Government incentives change often, but historically, the U.S. government has allowed a tax credit of up to 30% of the system’s cost.
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Do Solar Panels Make Sense For My Home
Some factors, like roof direction, roof shading, the solar inverter you choose, and whether or not youre including a solar battery could also influence the number of panels you need. These factors, however, are hard to quantify on your own.
The best way to determine the ideal location for your home solar power system and how many solar panels you need is by getting quotes from qualified local solar companies. Solar installers will also be able to give you an idea of the upfront costs of solar for your home and what rebates, incentives, and tax credits homeowners in your area qualify for.
In the meantime, using the steps in this article can give you a rough estimate of how many photovoltaic solar panels you need to power your home with clean, renewable energy.
Is going solar worth it where you live?
What Is An Srec
Solar Renewable Energy Credits, also called SRECs, are certificates that represent all of the positive environmental impacts of generating clean solar energy. One SREC is generated for every megawatt-hour , or 1,000 kilowatt hours of solar electricity a solar panel system generates.
Utilities purchase SRECs in order to meet state regulations called Renewable Portfolio Standards . An RPS requires utilities to generate a portion of their electricity from a renewable energy resource.
Some RPS requirements have a solar carve-out, which dictates the amount of energy that an electricity supplier must procure from solar. Solar carve-outs help drive SREC markets because they require utilities to purchase solar-specific renewable energy credits.
SRECs are sold independently from electricity. So as a homeowner with solar, you not only earn money from selling SRECs but you also receive net metering credits for your excess solar energy production, which essentially means youre getting paid twice for your solar generation!
Although 38 states and Washington D.C. have an RPS in place, only 7 states have SREC markets:
- New Jersey*
- Delaware
- Ohio
*States that still have an SREC market, but are no longer accepting new applications for the program.
How much can you earn with SRECs in your state?
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