With the national grid collapsing every two market days and the current fuel price (which is not bound to reduce anytime soon), the best time to invest in a solar system was yesterday, and the next best time is now.
Solar energy is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach to harness the sun’s power. It provides a reliable source of electricity that can significantly reduce dependence on conventional energy sources. By investing in a solar system, you not only safeguard yourself against rising energy costs but also contribute to a cleaner environment.
But before jumping into investing in your solar system, let’s learn a bit about solar energy and how it is harnessed in solar panels.
What is Solar Energy?
Solar energy is a renewable source of energy gotten from the sun’s radiation. In simpler terms, it uses the sun’s rays to generate electricity to meet one’s energy needs.
The sun’s energy is mostly harnessed through solar panels, which contain photovoltaic cells that enable them to generate electricity via the photoelectric effect. Due to the nature of the materials used in solar panels, electrons flow when sunlight falls on them. This flow of electrons is called electricity, and the process of electrons leaving the solar panels when sunlight falls on them is called the photoelectric effect.
Think of it this way: Rather than getting stung by the sun’s rays all day and getting nothing in return, you can harness the sun’s energy to generate electricity.
You’re probably wondering, “How can I get this free electricity?” Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered. But first, let’s discuss the advantages of solar energy and what you stand to gain from it.
Benefits of Solar Energy
Solar energy is a limitless resource freely given to humanity. However, despite the advancements humanity has made so far, we’re yet to use up to 1% of the energy contained within the total amount of the sun’s rays that fall on Earth. This shows that the solar industry has a bright future (pun intended!).
A few benefits of solar energy include:
1. It is an alternative energy source.
Solar energy is an alternative source for homes and businesses with diverse energy needs that would otherwise be fully dependent on a central grid. This allows them to always be connected to an energy source.
2. It is a renewable energy source.
Solar energy is a renewable and endless source of energy. According to National Geographic, the amount of sunlight that reaches Earth’s atmosphere in an hour is sufficient to meet all of humanity’s electricity demands for a year.
3. It is environmentally friendly.
Solar energy is one of the cleanest energy sources, as it does not emit greenhouse gases that could harm the environment. Conventional energy sources like fossil fuels release harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxides.
4. It is cost-effective
Solar energy systems help clients save on electricity bills in the long run by reducing the energy they consume from national electricity distribution companies. Judging from the rising fuel and gas prices, conventional means of generating electricity will only get more expensive, and the best bet to curb this is by getting onboard the solar train.
5. Energy Independence
By harnessing solar power, individuals and communities can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and grid electricity. In this manner, they can still get their energy needs irrespective of general power outages. This is especially useful for businesses that cannot risk production delays.
Components of a Solar Panel Setup
Although solar panels generate direct current (DC) power, household devices and appliances are powered by alternating current (AC), the same electricity supplied by the national grid. Thus, the solar panel works with other components to supply electricity directly to homes and offices.
A basic solar setup consists of four components;
- Solar Panel
- Inverter
- Batteries
- Charge Controller
How Solar Panels Convert Solar Energy to Electricity
Solar panels generate electricity from sunlight by using Photovoltaic (PV) cells. These cells are made from silicon, a semiconductor material that conducts electricity. As the PV cells absorb energy from the sunlight, electrons are knocked loose from the silicon layers.
These free electrons are then forced to flow in a specific direction following the existing electric field. This flow of electrons creates a form of electricity known as Direct Current (DC).
However, an inverter is required to convert the DC generated by the solar panel to AC needed for homes and businesses.
Converting DC to AC (Inverter)
When the sun’s rays hit solar panels, DC power is generated. This direct current is transformed into an alternating current through switching transistors. DC is switched on and off rapidly at very high frequencies, creating a waveform that mimics AC electricity.
Once this is completed, the inverter releases the generated AC electricity to the transformer, which converts it to the appropriate voltage for household appliances.
Solar Batteries
Solar batteries act as energy reservoirs in a solar setup. They store the sun’s energy during the day and dispense it for later use, such as at night or on rainy days.
Since batteries also store the excess electricity solar panels generate during the day, they can provide backup power during power outages, such as in the event of another national grid collapse.
Charge controllers
Charge controllers manage the flow of electricity between the solar panels, batteries, and the load. The “load” refers to all appliances connected to a household’s power supply.
If directly connected to the solar panels, the batteries can get overcharged or dispense too much energy at once, which is detrimental to battery health.
The charge controller relieves battery stress by supplying a constant voltage for the battery to charge, cutting off this supply when the battery is full and only allowing set amounts of electricity to flow from the battery.
In certain charge controllers, users can even set how much energy will be dispensed from their batteries and set the battery supply to go off after exceeding a specific amount for more efficient battery usage.
Conclusion
Incorporating solar power is not only an investment in your pocket or home alone; it is an investment in the future of our planet. If you’re looking for a solar installation for your home or you’re a business owner searching for solutions, it’s high time to act and go solar.