Qué Es La Energía Solar y Cómo Funcionan Los Paneles Solares

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Cómo funcionan los paneles solares

Ha visto a menudo paneles solares en los techos y se ha preguntado cómo funcionan? Parecen simples en el servicio, pero hay un proceso completo entre cómo funciona la energía solar con paneles para generar electricidad en el hogar de una persona. El siguiente artículo describe cómo funcionan los paneles solares para alimentar su hogar o propiedad y el uso de energía solar puede beneficiarlo financieramente y ayudarlo a ayudar al medio ambiente al reducir su huella de carbono.

Cómo generan energía los paneles?

Instalar paneles solares en su casa de Albuquerque es una gran idea.

La absorción de la luz solar es la forma más básica de explicar cómo puede alimentar su hogar con paneles solares. Sin embargo, hay mucho más que eso. Los paneles en sí están hechos de vidrio con un marco de metal, capas de celdas de silicio y alambres y una película. Luego se colocan en el techo o al aire libre en los campos donde están en la mejor posición para absorber la luz del sol durante el día..

Entonces, ¿cómo funcionan los paneles? Las células solares incluyen un semiconductor hecho de silicio en forma de dos capas. Están cargados positiva y negativamente, lo que crea un campo de electricidad. Cuando la luz solar incide en el panel, hace contacto con la célula solar para generar energía para ella. Libera electrones de los átomos en el semiconductor, que se establece alrededor del campo eléctrico, moviéndose alrededor de la oblea para crear una corriente eléctrica a su alrededor.

Los paneles solares ahora pueden convertir la luz solar en electricidad como corriente continua. Luego se puede convertir en una corriente que se utiliza en las centrales eléctricas. Una vez realizada esta conversión, alimentará los dispositivos a través de un panel eléctrico doméstico. Este es el mismo método utilizado por la red eléctrica de una compañía eléctrica general cuando tradicionalmente los hogares tienen electricidad.

Cómo se mide?

Dado que no funciona de la manera que normalmente esperaría de una compañía eléctrica, esto plantea la pregunta de cómo se mide exactamente la electricidad en su hogar cuando se usa un panel solar. Cuando el clima en su área no produce demasiada luz solar, no produce demasiada energía. Esto sucederá en los días en que llueve o está nublado, y no hay sol ni siquiera durante el día. Dicho esto, por otro lado, sus paneles solares pueden almacenar un excedente de energía si hay demasiada luz solar y no hay nadie en casa que use electricidad.

Cuando ocurre esto último y se recolecta un excedente de energía, es posible que obtenga un crédito de su compañía de servicios públicos. A su vez, el excedente de energía se denomina red en red. El medidor medirá la electricidad tanto dentro como fuera de la propiedad.

Beneficios de usar paneles solares

El uso de energía solar tiene muchas ventajas. Por lo general, si tiene suficiente para invertir en primer lugar, pueden ahorrarle mucho dinero a largo plazo. Son una inversión a largo plazo que reducirá el costo de sus facturas con paneles solares, y puede obtener un reembolso devolviéndolo a la red cuando esté generando una cantidad excedente de energía.

La facilidad de instalación es atractiva para muchos de ellos y también quiere usarlos. Los paneles solares son lo suficientemente simples para instalar en el techo de su propiedad y solo requieren unos días para hacer funcionar su hogar con energía solar. Deberá asegurarse de que su techo tenga la inclinación correcta para que pueda obtener el máximo beneficio de sus paneles solares. Afortunadamente, hay una amplia gama de paneles entre los que puede elegir, por lo que seguramente habrá algo que le dará a su techo el mayor beneficio de la energía solar.

Aspectos destacados de los paneles solares

Uno de los principales atractivos del uso de la energía solar, además del dinero que se puede ahorrar a largo plazo, es reducir su huella de carbono a tener en cuenta. Dado que la energía solar proporciona energía limpia, está dando un paso importante para hacer recortes para ayudar al medio ambiente y proteger la vida silvestre local y sus hábitats locales. El calentamiento es una amenaza constante para el clima, y ​​tener esta forma de energía limpia en su hogar significa que está contribuyendo a la protección del medio ambiente.

No solo ayuda al medio ambiente y realiza su trabajo contra el cambio climático, sino que también es una fuente de energía renovable. Esta es probablemente una frase que haya escuchado muchas veces, especialmente si está buscando energía solar y paneles. El uso de una fuente de energía renovable ayuda a reducir la contaminación del aire, un desafío global que se enfrenta a diario.

Por qué la energía renovable está aumentando

Como sociedad, muchos de nosotros estamos trabajando por una forma de vida sostenible. Es por eso que el uso de energía renovable se está volviendo cada vez más popular, y en los últimos años hemos visto a muchas más personas optar por cambiar su huella de carbono. En realidad, esto se hace combinando energía solar y de baterías..

Es por eso que debería considerar hacer un cambio a la energía solar. De antemano, vale la pena señalar que cuando tradicionalmente pagaría desde la red eléctrica, se requiere cierta inversión inicial en comparación con esto. Al final, es una inversión en la que incluso si tiene que pagar por la configuración inicial de los paneles, encontrará que puede ahorrar mucho dinero en línea.

Top Reasons to Consider Going Solar

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Solar energy is becoming more and more popular with homeowners these days. As the threat of global warming gets more real, many homeowners are making the investment in solar energy systems and reaping the benefits that those systems provide. The reasons for this are quite simple:

Decreased Electric Bills
Solar energy is sustainable and renewable, which is great news considering that you will likely see a huge reduction in your electric bill. Lower electric bills mean more money for your savings account, for your retirement, for a vacation, for your child’s college fund, to repaint your home – whatever you’d like.

Environmentally Responsible
We humans are the stewards of this planet and as such, we are responsible for protecting it. Science has proven that global warming is very real, and more and more people are going “green” to try to help the Earth. It doesn’t hurt to be able to say that you are among those trying to save our planet.

A Good Investment
Adding a solar energy system to your home is wonderful for your home’s equity and resale value. It adds to your investment portfolio as well, which means you are also investing in your future. That just makes good sense.

You Are Among the Energy Independent
By not using oil and gas to power your home, you are helping our government decrease its dependency on foreign oil, and become independent. The more independent we are as a nation, the more money we can invest in ourselves, and taxes will be lower.

Going solar is an investment in your family’s future, as well as in the planet that is our responsibility. It protects ecosystems, which in turn protects our wildlife, and our water supplies. It is the best way to show that you care about what happens here, as well as being very advantageous for your own pocket book. Solar energy systems pay for themselves almost immediately, and add to your home’s equity. Going solar is no longer a fad. It is essential to the health of the Earth.

Biggest Reasons Why Solar Power Is As Inexpensive Than Ever

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Having held up as a success story for clean energy advocates, solar power has never been cheaper than it is today. Nearly down 99 percent in cost in the last four decades, photovoltaic cells, or PTV, has never been so affordable.

But why is it that this growing technology has been so inexpensive lately? There are several factors that contribute and we are left with the questions as to the sustainability of these savings since renewable subsidies begin to stall.

MIT has done its research as to why PTV solar panels continue to decline in price over time, and here are some of its findings.

One important factor has been government policy, which moving forward, may be considered as one of the best advocates for solar growth and this fight we’re all in, against climate change.

Utilizing a vibrant model that surpasses easy associations, the results recommend that it is, as a matter of fact, feasible for governments to take actions that make solar power more affordable.

Even more, by taking these simple actions, it can substitute for an independent connection between climate policies and technology innovation.

When plans exist that tackle carbon exhausts, the researchers noticed enhancement and also growth in low-carbon technologies. By expanding this market, governments around the globe played a crucial duty in minimizing the cost of the modern technology and, consequently, the price of cutting carbon emissions.

“This work is important in that it identifies that the growth in demand for solar PV in the past 15 years was the most important driver of the astounding cost reductions over that period,” said Gregory Nemet, who is a policy researcher at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, who was not involved in the study.

“Policies in Japan, Germany, Spain, California, and China drove the growth of the market and created opportunities for automation, scale, and learning by doing.”

The researchers took a look at solar growth from 1980 to 2012, throughout which time the cost of solar panels fell by 97 percent. From above, they analyzed the high-level elements for one evaluation: the adjustments in production, circulation or research study. And afterwards from below, they separately analyzed the low-level factors: the fundamental scientific research and also design of the panels.

The findings disclose that six low-level elements accounted for over 60 percent of the total decrease in expenses. This is a good indication due to the fact that it means there are various levers we can pull to attempt and maintain solar energy economical and also competitive.

Simply put, if we desire solar development to advance this roadway, the more doors we can open, the much better. As well as if we desire the expense of photovoltaic panels to remain to reduce, it’s crucial that we identify how to manipulate the factors that decrease cost.

Demand for the innovation is also an essential factor the group looked at when considering the high-level elements. They uncovered that 60 percent of the overall cost decline was as a result of government plans that promoted market development.

By implementing renewable energy criteria, tariffs and a variety of aids, governments have “played an important part in decreasing costs,” according to co-author Jessika Trancik, a professional in power systems designing at MIT.

In the past, governments have actually helped significantly by assisting in funding research and development. Actually, this kind of investment made up 40 percent of the general cost decline.

Since the innovation of technology has grown so much, the influence of R&D might not be as great today – although it is still crucial. The scientists found instead that in the last years, broadening production has actually had a greater effect on reducing costs.

And also, while the new study is concentrated on the past, it is just one of our ideal clues for the future. Judging by the results, the writers declare there “are opportunities for additional expense improvements with this technology.”

To get there, the study recommends we require a synergy to increase production and research more affordable alternatives to PTV modern technology, ones that have the potential to function better.

“Looking forward, market-stimulating policies can continue to sustain cost declines, via a virtuous, mutually-reinforcing cycle of innovation improvement as well as emissions reductions,” the writers said.

If we are truly concerned about mitigating climate adjustments, we need to kick our nonrenewable fuel source habit asap and turn our focus to greener resources of energy.

This research study highly recommends that federal governments have the power to make solar energy a feasible different energy source. The next question is – will they do it?

This study has been published in Energy Policy .

Pros and Cons on Residential Solar Panels

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Sometimes utility bills are just plain annoying. Money put into the headaches of basic living means it can’t be spent elsewhere. But thankfully due to modern technology, we have an answer: and that answer is installing solar panels for your home.

Why Solar Panels Make Sense For Your Residence

From a residential perspective, it’s mostly upsides for the consumer. There’s not even really a con if the house is still connected to the grid, not unless the panels in question are hideously expensive and financing isn’t an option. The first advantage of solar panels is the obvious: you start saving on electricity, thus the system pays for itself out of those savings. How long the repayment period is depends on several factors, that being upfront cost, anything for financing, overall maintenance, and electricity prices of the utilities. Generally speaking, a solar PV system should pay for itself in about five to fifteen years, or fewer if there are any government incentives in play, like tax credits, and the like.

Also, for those worried about their house value, don’t worry; solar panels increase property value. A lot of homeowners are interested in solar, but either haven’t looked into installation, or don’t have the financial means to install a system. If you’re looking to move elsewhere, it still may be worth it to install solar panels for when you sell the house as this will certainly help increase the value of your residence.

We should also look at the situation from the view of the electricity provider, which is by necessity, a bit different. First and most important is that solar panels produce the most energy during the peak times when energy is most in demand, which helps relieve the burden on providers. Not only that, but it also means they won’t have to invest in more equipment to cover peak load, which helps keep electricity prices down.

There Aren’t Really Any Cons For Solar Panels

From a residential perspective, it’s mainly a matter of cost. True, solar panels have gone down in price, and will continue to do so, but the price is the only con at the present. Without the option to finance, or any tax credits or rebates, the cost of a system may be too much. Further, some homes may have difficulty installing solar panels due to the roofing on their residence: slate or cedar tiles are found in older homes, most notably; solar installers often have a hard time working on these types of roofs.  Other difficulties on the roof are skylights or roof decks. The option of ground mounted solar panels also exists; though that has its own difficulties for residences lacking enough ground area.

On the provider’s side, there’s the problem of actually having too much residential solar connected to the grid, such that solar generation covers more than 20% of the load. The grid becomes unstable at such a percentage. However, this is easily compensated for by energy storage, either on the consumer side or the provider side.

Conclusions

On the whole, solar is the future, especially in the face of public opinion and investor choices. There are practical and financial hurdles to consider, but they’re hurdles, not roadblocks. If you think you can jump over them, consider your future well secured.

 

What Direction Should Solar Panels Face?

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Are you considering a solar panel for your home? If so, one of the first few questions you will probably ask yourself is “what is the best direction for solar panels to face so they will produce maximum power?”

Typically, your solar panel company will help you with the placement, but the general rule is if you are in the U.S., you should have your solar panels facing true south.

The more sunlight that reaches your solar panels, the more electricity you can generate and the more you will be able to save on your electric bill.

If your roof doesn’t face the south…

Don’t panic, if your roof faces east-west instead of north-south you have a few options. You could increase the solar collector area by using more solar panels or larger collectors. Another option is to place the panels somewhere other than your roof. You could mount panels on a south-facing wall or even on the ground. This is more unusual but it gives you easy access to the panels so you can clean or repair them easily.

Worried about not getting enough sunlight?

If you decide to place your panels on the ground instead of the roof, you could always look into placing your panels on trackers which adjust the position of the panels though out the year to maximize the amount of sunlight.

Now that you know the direction your solar panel should face, give Solar Solutions a call at 915-581-0461 today so we can answer any questions you may have regarding solar energy.

World’s Largest Floating Solar Panels

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China once had a reputation as a coal-guzzling, smog – blanketed polluter. However, that is changing fast. China invests more in wind, hydro and solar power than any other country and recently, China switched on the world’s largest floating solar power plant.

Where is it located?

The floating solar power plant is located in the city of Huainan. The power plant has a capacity of 40 megawatts, which is enough to power a small town or more than 15,000 homes and it floats over a flooded former coal-mining region.

Advantages of floating solar arrays

Floating solar panels have been in use for a little over a decade and have several advantages; the cooling effect of the water the panels float on makes them more efficient and they don’t take up any valuable space on land. Floating solar panels not only increase clean power, but they also reduce evaporation of water for drinking or irrigation by intercepting sunlight before it hits a reservoir’s surface.

China may have achieved a seemingly impossible renewable energy goal and we are intrigued. Solar power is gaining traction around the globe, and if you are interested in the process, give Solar Solutions a call at 915-581-0461, we are one of the most experienced solar power companies in Texas and New Mexico.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Solar Company

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Choosing a solar company can sometimes feel intimidating since it’s not something you do everyday. How are you supposed to know whether or not the company that might put solar panels on the roof of your house is a quality company worth paying to do the job?

First, consider if the solar company is willing to analyze your roof and energy needs in such a way that you feel like they care and can show you how solar energy will ultimately save you money in the long run. If they’re going to give you a quote for work to be done, does that quote provide adequate details? Does the company consider things like the pitch of a roof and building codes? Do they seem to be experts at this?

Next, the one question most people have in the back of their minds is this: what happens if the solar power system doesn’t produce the amount of electricity it was/is supposed to? What do I do then? It’s a good idea to ask a solar company about this and see what kind of guarantee they offer. For instance, are they willing and able to monitor the system to check to make sure it’s producing as it should? Exactly how much electricity will the solar panels produce? How does the company figure out their numbers?

Also, don’t be afraid to ask about who would be the people actually installing the solar panels on your roof. How will they know, for sure, that the roof can handle such panels? Do they have experience installing solar panels? Do they need to get any permits to do so? Does their work get inspected when it’s done by someone else who makes sure everything was done right?

There are many questions to ask a solar company before you decide to “go solar.” If you want to talk with GR Solar Solutions of Texas, call 915-581-0461 with any questions you might have.

How Can You Tell If Your Roof Can Hold Solar Panels?

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Solar PanelsOne of the more popular questions people ask before buying solar panels and having them installed on their home is this: will my roof be able to hold them?

Solar panels, including their mounting equipment, typically weigh between 2 to 4 pounds per square foot. This is a weight that most roofs can handle. As long as installers distribute the weight optimally, most roofs should have no problem with the addition of solar power systems.

Solar panel manufacturers have come up with solutions to work well for all sorts of roofs, whether they’re flat or sloped.

Some of the things to consider before adding solar panels to your particular roof, though, include its age, slope, and whether or not adding panels voids the roof warranty.

First, keep in mind the age of your roof. If it’s older (think 15 to 20 years old) and you plan to have a new roof replacement done soon, then it makes sense to wait to add solar panels at the same time the new roof is put on or right afterward.

Next, if you have a steep sloped roof special equipment may be needed to install panels; check with GR Solar Solutions beforehand to get an idea of what could be done to make it work out just fine. If your roof is made of specialized material such as slate tiles then installers may need to charge extra because they have to take special precautions not to damage the unique roofing material.

Sometimes people get nervous that solar panel installation will cause damage to their roof, leading to leaks. Generally, installers use sealants and metal flashing to make sure leaks do not occur.

What about the roof warranty? Adding solar panels may cause the roof warranty to be voided, but solar power system installers often add their own warranty into the mix so homeowners need not worry.

Finally, one other option is solar shingles. These integrate with conventional asphalt roof shingles.

If you have any questions about solar panel installation on your roof, please call GR Solar Solutions at 915-581-0461.

How do Solar Systems Produce Energy?

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If you take some time to watch YouTube videos, do a search for living in a van and see what appears. There are quite a few videos that show van dwellers who are able to call a van or RV their permanent home thanks to solar panels on their roofs. It’s a pretty amazing thing to think they can be in a van reading articles on their computer screen while running a blender to make a smoothie.

Take a look around the neighborhood where you live. Be on the lookout for solar panels. You’ll see more and more of them as time goes by.

Solar power from the sun can be converted into energy to power things, and that’s a modern day marvel, isn’t it?

Solar panels receive light from the sun. Not to get too technical, but the sun’s rays are converted into electricity by exciting electrons in specially-designed silicon cells that utilize the photons of light coming from the sun.

Did you know solar panels contain “photovoltaic” cells? This is a big, fancy word that means electricity from light. Underneath glass, these cells have a positive and negative film of silicon. When light hits them, electrons get knocked off the silicon. Negatively-charged free electrons end up on one side of the cell creating electric voltage. Thus, electricity is collected and channeled to run people’s appliances, computers, and more in their vehicles, homes or wherever else they need it. When more and more solar panels are linked together, even more electricity can be generated.

The electricity ends up at an electrical box which contains fuses as well as connections delivering power to an item called the inverter. DC (direct current) gets converted into AC (alternating current) thanks to the inverter. The AC gets connected to a circuit breaker in the electrical panel. Power goes to any electrical loads currently in operation.

GR Solar Solutions can install solar panels on or near your home. Please call 915-581-0461 to discuss your needs.

Source Used:  http://www.nwwindandsolar.com/solar-power-in-seattle-and-the-northwest/how-do-solar-systems-produce-energy/

Why Solar Impulse 2 is Making People Dream Big

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solar PlaneAt the end of July, history was made in Abu Dhabi when the world’s first entirely solar powered plane completed its flight around the world without a single drop of conventional fuel.

The all-solar plane, Solar Impulse 2, first set off from the United Arab Emirates in March 2015, flying eastward around the world in 17 flights of varying length that took it through numerous countries. Despite some setbacks – including a nearly year-long delay in Hawaii caused by overheated battery damage, as CNBC reports – the plane performed well, traversing the planet completely without the use of carbon-polluting fuels.

This record-setting achievement is just the latest example of the myriad possibilities that solar technology offers in the field of travel. While the plane was not exactly fast enough to support long-distance travel as a viable solution – Solar Impulse 2 traveled at an average speed of 75 kilometers per hour, according to the project’s website – its fuel-free flight could open the door to further improvement and refinement to help conventional planes be more efficient. For example, if solar was added to a conventional aircraft, it could reduce in-flight energy costs and help diminish the reliance of airliners on jet fuel, making a more efficient and green flight a viable option.

The plane also used new battery technologies that allowed it to sustain flight even at night. The energy generated in excess of the plane’s immediate needs was stored in the onboard battery systems, which then allowed for 24-hour operation, including five nights as part of the plane’s longest trip from Japan to Hawaii. This technology could help to improve automated devices like drones or satellites, allowing them to conserve power more efficiently and operate for longer periods of time without the need to land or switch to a conventional fuel source.

Perhaps the most important part of the mission was to change attitudes around the world toward solar power and show the capabilities of solar technology.

“I hope that the result of this project will be the people understanding that you can achieve absolutely incredible goals with renewable energies and energy efficiency and new monitoring technologies,” said Bertrand Piccard, chairman and co-pilot of Solar Impulse 2, in an interview with CNBC.

Here on the ground, Solar Solutions can help your home or business add solar energy and make your home less reliant on conventional fuel. Solar energy can power your lights and other electronics, or even be used to heat the water in your shower or pool. To learn more about the capabilities of solar power for your building or to get a quote on adding solar panels, call us today at 915-581-0461.