Solar School

What are Solar Panels Made Of?
Crystalline Silicon Solar Panels are the primary type of solar panel available. The crystalline silicon is the material responsible for producing solar power – its particles turn light energy into an electric current. Particles which are “excited” by the sun’s rays can move freely throughout the cell, bouncing off of one another, creating a current. To create a solar panel, the silicon is sliced into paper-thin disks which must be processed to fix possible damage incurred by the cutting. A material called a dopant, which modifies electric charges, and several conductors, are then added in a grid-formation to the cell. Glass is attached as a protective covering and the full panel is connected to a supporting substrate using a conductive material which keeps the panel from overheating. There is a second, up-and-coming type of solar panel called Amorphous Silicon Solar Panels, abbreviated as A-si Cells. They are composed of multiple thin film layers of a silicon alloy. The benefits of A-si cells are greatly increased efficiency, improved breakage resistance, and much more affordable materials.

What are the Benefits?
Solar power is gaining popularity quick mainly due to its’ financial and environmental congeniality. Having a PV system provides energy independent of the power grid through noiseless production, and eliminates sky-rocketing energy payments. It also lessens dependence on foreign energy resources.

What are the Benefits?
Advantages of using wind produced energy are endless. More specifically though, it is a way to gain energy independence and alleviate demand on the power grid, while reducing air pollution, and saving money on rising utility prices.

What is Solar Power?
Solar-powered energy is a clean energy that is collected from the sun’s radiation rays. It can be converted into electricity or used for lighting, heating and cooling homes or buildings.

How Does it Work?
The standard instrument used to collect sunlight is a solar cell/panel, which can be used in small and medium applications. These cells are referred to as photovoltaic, and the cell composition may vary. The energy that panels collect from the sun is DC (Direct Current) which is an acceptable source of power for some appliances although, not for all. In the instance that a household device cannot run on DC power, an inverter can convert the power to AC (Alternating Current). Solar energy is converted into electricity through two ways. The stand-alone system that provides the owner with independence from the electric company is best for areas far from the utility grid. The other is a system that utilizes the sun’s energy and is connected to the electric lines of the utility grid.

What is Wind Power?
Wind power is categorized as another form of solar power, and society has been harnessing its’ power for centuries, although, in the last few years, wind turbines have become the most common commercially used renewable energy output system in the United States. By the year 2010, it is the anticipation of the United States to produce 20% of the nations’ electric power via renewable resources, such as wind, hydrogen, geothermal power, solar power, etc. This resource has the most energy potential, although, the capabilities have not yet been fully developed.

How Does it Work?
A wind-powered turbine consists of 3 major parts; the tower, the blades, and the box behind the blades that contains the electrical alternator/generator. As the wind rotates the blades, the alternator/generator produces DC which is then converted to AC to power devices. Turbines can be used in small or large scale applications to produce energy from the power of wind. But just as solar power is limited by the amount of sunlight the solar cells receive, wind-produced energy is limited by the amount of wind the turbine receives. Therefore it is necessary for either type of application to be grid-connected, with a secondary source of power, unless it is a stand-alone system. The Hybrid System is the most eco-friendly energy producing method because it utilizes 100% renewable resources to produce power. This system combines wind power, and photovoltaic units, or other renewable sources. Turbines come in a myriad of sizes available for large or small scale energy output. Large scale applications are developed into ‘wind farms’ and are meant to do the job of a small power plant. Small scale applications are an acceptable form of energy production for homes in a location that receive 12mph on average, annually.

Where should I place my PV system for peak performance?
For a photovoltaic system to perform at peak efficiency, the systems’ construction site must be a well-lit, spacious area, with a unit adequately proportioned to the size of the home or building. Since a PV system only works when the sun is shining, it is important to avoid shaded areas when choosing placement for the solar cells.