Solar Energy

We have used solar energy for thousands of years. After all, why let all that good sunlight go to waste?

We have taken the solar energy as a natural source of heat for our homes and our water. However, only recently have we been able to begin to take the solar energy and convert it into electricity that can be used as power in our homes.

We do this with solar panels. We are able to use solar panels to take the energy from the sun and convert that natural solar power into electricity. Then you can use that electrical power to run things in your home.

These types of energy systems are known as renewable energy systems. If you use them you are able to harness solar energy. Then you can reduce or even eliminate your reliance on your local power company.

If you want to do that you first should learn how these solar energy systems work.

How Solar Energy Systems Work

Actually, solar energy systems are pretty simple to understand. Solar energy systems have three basic things in common.

First, they use things called photovoltaic panes as their power source. (No, I am not going to give you a test on this!) These panes serve the same purpose as those big turbines and fossil fuel generators contained in our huge power plants. However, these panes are far smaller.

Second, they always have some sort of power storage unit. As you can guess, the power storage unit simply takes the incoming solar energy and stores it as solar power that can be used at a later time.

Third, is the load. The load is the amount of energy that your building draws. These three things make up your solar energy system.

There also happen to be three kinds of solar energy systems.

The first kind of system is the on grid system. An on grid system is located on the local power company’s power grid. An on grid system will serve to provide solar power as a supplement to the power you receive from your local power company.

If you have a power blackout, your energy system in your building also will stop. That is because this system does not have any way to balance out the power load. When you have an on grid system you are able to take any excess power that you have and sell it to your power company.

The second kind of system is the off grid system. An Off grid system is not located on the local power company’s power grid.  This type of system usually will store the solar power it produces. The power will be stored either in batteries or within the system itself.

If you have a power blackout, your energy system will continue to operate. You will continue to have power. You can use any extra power to heat water or to heat air.

The third kind of system is an on grid plus battery system. This kind of system has a battery backup in addition to the solar energy and the local power company.

If you have a power blackout, your energy system can operate off the battery. You can sell any excess power to your power company or store it in your battery.

Before you install a solar energy system for your building, you should figure out your average monthly power usage.

You also should be sure that your building is as energy-efficient as you can make it. You can replace your current bulbs with florescent lighting. You can buy a low-energy refridgerator. It helps to have double pane windows. You might want to replace an electric range with a gas one.

Then you will be prepared to develop a solar energy system equal to your energy needs.