Solar Panels, reducing your energy bill!

The photovoltaic (PV) process converts sunlight, the most abundant energy source on the planet directly into electricity. The equipment required for this process has no moving parts and as a result requires minimal maintenance. In addition, the electricity is generated with no emissions and no noise.

Potoelectric effect was discovered in 1838 by physicist Edmund Becquerel although it wasn't until the 1950's that the technology was developed enough to produce efficient working cells. During the 50's and 60's Solar PV's were put on satellites and sent into orbit but it was still too expensive for general use. The next few decades brought better technology with lower prices and Solar PV's were installed in world-wide remote villages to provide electricity for where there was no supply. Grid-connected Solar PV's have had a massive growth since 1990's in the more developed countries of the world.

Consumer Solar panel, placed in a garden

How to figure the size of solar panels required to power your house.

1. First, take number of KWH shown on your bill. Divide that by 30. That gives you your average daily usage. So if you use 700 KWH that is 23.3 KWH per day.
2. Take that number. Divide it by the number of full sun hours you get per day on a yearly average. Multiply it by 1.15. That will give you a pretty close estimate of how many watts of solar panel you need. So if you get 5 hours per day (it's around 4-5 for the UK), divide 23.3 by 5 - that gives you 4.66 KW, or 4,666 watts. Multiply that by 1.15, which gives you 5,360 watts of solar panel needed.

Technology Characteristics

Monocrystalline High efficiency and fairly expensive. Prefers high-light conditions.
Power output c780 units/kWp/year
Power density = 120 Wp/m2
Charcoal or dark blue

Polycrystalline ('multicrystalline' or 'thickfilm') Lower efficiency and less expensive. Prefers high-light conditions.
Power output c720 units/kWp/year
Power density = 120 Wp/m2
Shiny and spangly blue
Amorphous ('thinflim') Loves low light conditions and cheap but you need a very big area to put it on.
Power output c900 units/kWp/year
Power density = 62 Wp/m2
Dark brown or dark blue
Hybrid Combines monocrystalline and amorphous technology. High efficiency in both high and low-light conditions.
Power output c900 units/kWp/year
Power density = 156 Wp/m2
Charcoal

Kingsmead Primary School, Northwich

Also see:

• Ringmer College Wind Turbines
• Renewable Energy - Fuel Cells
• Wind Turbines
• Marine Current Turbines

External Links:

• Pacific SolarTech - http://www.pacificsolartech.com/
• BP Solar - http://www.bp.com/modularhome.do?categoryId=4260
• American Capital Energy - http://www.americancapital.com/energy/index.cfm
• Energy Development Co-operative Limited - http://www.unlimited-power.co.uk
• THE GREENENERGY WEBSITE - http://www.nef.org.uk/greenenergy/solar.htm
• Sunshine Solar Limited - http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/
• Select Solar - http://www.selectsolar.co.uk/