It is no longer in doubt that solar energy panels provide a clean source of energy that is far more desirable for the environment than traditional sources of energy. You hear a lot about them these days but how much do you really know about them. Perhaps, this may help a little.
What are they?
To capture and use the energy provided by the sun, you need solar energy panels. They are the devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity. A solar panel itself consists of a collection of multiple solar energy collectors, called solar cells, which are covered by a sheet of glass for protection. These cells are made specifically to capture sunlight and generate electricity. For that reason, they are sometimes called photovoltaic cells from the Greek word photo meaning light and voltaic taken from the name of Alessandro Volta, the electricity pioneer.
Each solar cell on its own only produces a few volts of electricity. Therefore, several are connected together to form a solar panel because then those cells can work together to provide enough electricity to be useful in powering, for example, domestic appliances and lighting.
How do they actually work?
Here are the basics. Once the energy from the sun has been trapped by an array of solar energy panels, usually on your roof, this energy is turned into DC (Direct Current) electricity. The DC electricity is then sent to an inverter which converts it to AC (Alternative Current) power making it suitable for use in the home.
Are they noisy?
The panels do not create any noise whatsoever because there are no moving parts. There is a barely noticeable noise (not unlike that of a computer “buzz” when it’s running) produced by the cooling fan of the inverter. However, this fan is usually installed inside a cupboard or garage, so this would hardly be a major concern to anyone.
Can You Expand Later?
This very much depends on the amount of roof space you have and the capacity of the inverter. If there is enough spare roof space, then you obviously can add additional panels to suit your needs. In Australia, this is not a problem as most people have more than they need in terms of roof area.
With the inverter, you need to know how many panels it can handle. For instance, in Australia the inverter for the entry-level 1.5 KW home solar power system has a 2 KW rating. This means that you can probably add 3 more panels to the original 6-8 panels before having to replace the inverter.
That said, it’s far better to invest in a bigger inverter to start with as this will allow you the freedom to increase the number of solar panels in your array later.
Is Your Roof Suitable?
A flat or a low-pitched roof (below 10 degrees) should not deter you from going solar. Nowadays, you can install a frame which will give a 30 degree pitch or thereabouts to the panels. This will cost more but well worth it when you consider that you will have better performance from the panels, thus potentially resulting in even bigger electricity savings.
In Australia, solar energy panels work best when they face north. It’s claimed that you would only lose 25% efficiency even if your roof is in an east to west direction. This is an area where you would need to exercise caution and investigate thoroughly before making a commitment whether you live in Australia, U.S.A., Europe or anywhere else in the world.
A third possible problem with the roof is shading. Shading, even partial shading could reduce the efficiency of the solar panels’ output.
So, hopefully, you now have a better idea of what solar energy panels are, how they work and whether they would be right for you.
