Solar Panels

Application of solar energy in the household

Application of solar energy in the household

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Solar energy is the energy that is obtained from the Sun. It is an abundant and renewable source of energy. Since ancient times, solar energy has been used in various ways. Nowadays, due to concerns about global warming, climate change and the constant rise in energy prices, new ways are emerging and new technologies are being developed to use this energy in the best possible way.

Passive utilization of solar energy

Solar energy

Passive utilization of solar energy involves not using any mechanical or electrical devices, but using solar energy in a passive way, for example, the orientation of the house towards the south. The system for passive solar energy recovery most often relies on south-oriented windows that act like a collector and collect solar energy. The energy collected is distributed according to the basic laws of thermodynamics, which say that heat passes from warm to cold surfaces and spaces.

Active use of solar energy

Active solar energy utilization systems use additional devices and additional energy sources for starting the fan, pumps or other equipment necessary for solar energy to collect, preserve and convert to heat or electricity. When solar energy is absorbed, that energy is stored so it can be used later. Smaller solar systems can supply households with electricity and hot water, while larger solar systems can be used to supply electricity and hot water to entire cities.

Active systems are much more complex in the way of functioning is from passive ones, but their installation and application are simple and highly reliable. Solar panels and solar collectors are used in active solar systems. Solar panels are used to produce electricity and solar collectors for water heating.

By combining solar panels, solar collectors, and other equipment we get solar systems. There are several types of solar systems: stand-alone photovoltaic systems, network-connected photovoltaic systems, solar thermal systems, hybrid solar systems. Solar power plants are also a type of solar system but are not intended for household use but for the sale of electricity produced.

Solar photovoltaic systems

They are used to produce electricity when it is necessary to provide complete autonomy and independence. They consist of solar panels, voltage controllers, solar batteries, inverters, and accessories. They are ideal for distant objects such as cottages, boats, watering systems and the like.

Network-connected photovoltaic systems

They are used for electricity generation but are also connected to the electricity distribution network. For their installation, it is necessary that the building is connected to the mains power supply network. They are mainly used to reduce the electricity bill. They consist of solar panels, network inverters, and accessories.

Solar thermal systems

They are used for domestic hot water heating, household heating, pool heating … They consist of a solar collector, solar water heater, solar controller, circulation pump and related equipment.

Hybrid solar systems

They are combined systems for electricity production and water heating. In practice, there are actually two independent systems, one solar thermal for water heating and another standalone photovoltaic system or a network-connected photovoltaic system for producing electricity.

How many solar panels do you need for your house?

How many solar panels do you need for your house?

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Many people believe that the number of solar panels they would need for their household is determined by how much their house is big. But that is not true. The required number of solar panels is not calculated on the basis of the square of the house, but on the basis of current consumption. This is explained through the example:

Solar system Imagine two identical houses, which are exactly the same. Then imagine that in the first lives a man of 30 years, alone without a family. In the morning he goes to work, he returns in the afternoon. When he comes home he normally opens the refrigerator to eat something, showers and then turns on the TV. Always went to see her friends. In the house is rarely when cooking and storing food and besides TV. He regularly uses a computer and charger for the phone.

In the second house, there are a man, a woman, and three children. The man in the garage holds a workshop with many electrical machines that he uses daily, a woman keeps children and prepares meals daily, and besides a fridge, they also use a freezer for storing food, children use their laptops and the boiler is always on. From this story, you yourself see that the family consumes far more power than one man, although they all are living in two identical houses.

How many panels do you need?

How many solar panels do you need for a household depends on which devices you use and how often do you use them in the household – the size of the house is not important. On the basis of monthly electricity bills, you can see how much you spend an average on electricity, so the system is tailored to your needs. When you calculate how many solar panels your household will be needed, you can buy either that whole number so you can live free from an electric bill, or you can buy a smaller amount of panels which will help you lower your electric bill. Either way, your household will become more eco-friendly.

How do solar panels work

How do solar panels work

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Solar panels are used to generate electricity from solar radiation. Many people mix solar panels and solar collectors designed to generate heat from solar radiation. Solar panels collect solar radiation and convert it into electricity. They are able to exploit only a part of solar radiation and convert it into electricity.

The efficiency of solar panels is only significant if the object is limited by the roof or another surface where the solar panels are installed so it is necessary to extract as much energy as possible with as little surface as possible, if there is enough room for the installation of more solar panels, efficiency is not so important. For example, a 250W solar panel with an efficiency of 20 percent will be physically smaller than a 250W panel with a 15 percent efficiency but will produce the same amount of electricity.

Weather conditions

The extent to which solar panels produce electricity will have the greatest impact on weather conditions. Tropical climates are ideal for solar panels, and they will produce more electricity when exposed to direct sunlight than when it’s cloudy. However, solar panels can be used in all climate zones. Solar panels require direct sunlight when it’s more exposed to direct sunlight, more electricity it will produce.

Another important thing in determining how many solar panels will produce electricity is the length of the day. For example, summers are much longer than in winter. This is actually the main reason why solar panels in winter generate less electricity than in summer, although it’s a common misconception that this is due to heat. Solar panels do not work on heat but solely on solar radiation.

Solar panels on building

An orientation of solar panels

Ideally, the solar panels should be placed on the south side. On this side, the sun’s light is the longest during the day. If they are located east or west, the utilization is almost twice as low as in the south.

What does it mean when we say that the solar panel has a 250W?

Each solar panel has its maximum power which indicates how much power (W) will produce in ideal conditions. This is called maximum power. The amount of sunlight is different and of course, it varies depending on the period of the day, the season, the weather conditions. For these reasons, solar panels give output power which is less than the maximum output power.