Energy is not as cheap as many of the power companies like to tell you, especially if you’re in the habit of leaving a light switched on or leaving the air conditioner running over night. We’re all guilty of such things from time to time, but how can we ensure that when the bill arrives our eyes don’t pop from their sockets?
Making your own solar and wind power for less than $200
The simple answer to that query is to seek out alternative power sources and solar power systems that can satisfy, easily and affordably, our energy needs is the obvious answer.
In recent decades, solar power has become increasingly popular but off-grid solar power systems specifically designed for homes and businesses, have taken off in popularity. There are two types available: Solar Thermal Panel systems and Photovoltaic Panel systems.
Thermal panel systems use the power of sunlight to heat water (or air or another liquid) to serve such household or business systems as heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Liquid is heated by solar ‘collectors’ and then circulates the building though the piping system.
There are a number of collectors ideal for your home or business, but the two most commonly used are Flat Plate and Evacuated Tube collectors.
In Flat Plate collectors, sunlight heats an absorber sheet which in turn heats the liquid in the pipes, and through thermosphyon (natural convection) it circulates through the system. The liquid is usually passed to a storage tank located above the collector. It is possible to get ‘freeze tolerant’ collectors for use in areas where extremely cold weather is common.
Evacuated Tube collectors differ greatly in design. They consist of a number of glass tubes, each of which has an inner glass tube through which the liquid passes. A vacuum between the tubes ensure little heat is lost, meaning they can use the sun’s heat more effectively that Flat Plate collectors, and since outside air temperature does not influence the system, they can be used in colder climates.
Photovoltaic panel systems can convert sunlight into electricity directly. Each solar cell uses the light of the sun to create a voltage. The cells are delicate, and susceptible to the elements of natures – not least moisture. They are made of two designs usually; wafer-based crystalline silicon cells and thin-film cells, which have the material pressed on sheets of plastic.
Photovoltaic solar panels offer one of the most cost-efficient solutions to the problems of meeting home and business power needs. While there has been a surge in the number of photovoltaic power stations constructed around the world, the availability of on-grid solar power depends heavily on where you live. Spain is the most developed nation with regards on-grid solar power, with 17 of the 20 biggest photovoltaic power stations in the world to be found there.
Making your own solar and wind power for less than $200
However, for the home and business owner it may be better to invest in an off-grid system with photovoltaic panels (or modules) winning hands down in that regards also. It can be constructed into a the roof or wall of a building, or mounted on the roof, ensuring a fast and disruption-free installation, regardless of whether your in an urban or rural area.
Its cost-effectiveness is clearly illustrated with the fact that 30,000 small (up to 100W) solar panels are sold in Kenya, a third-world nation, every year. It is also calculated to be 85 times more efficient than ethanol, a fuel manufactured from sugar cane and which represents 18 percent of Brazil’s energy production. Ethanol from one hectare of cane can fuel one car for 30,000 miles; or in photovoltaic terms, 2.5 million miles!
According to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), photovoltaic panels have an estimated panel lifespan of 25-40 years and a return-on-investment period of just 8 to 12 years.
There are other factors to consider regarding solar energy systems. Most governments offer a grant system to those who switch to alternative power. In the USA, the incentives can differ from state to state, with one of California’s many incentives offering a property tax exemption to those who install solar panels in their home.
But some governments even recognize the extent of the energy revolution with residents in Ontario, Canada, for example, able to sell their own energy to the grid system at a price of USD0.42 per kWh.
So not only can you save money, you can also make money.
Making your own solar and wind power for less than $200
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