SOLOSOL - Renewable Energy by Design
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What is PV? |
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How long will PV last? |
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What type of lighting is best? |
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What is Photovoltaics? |
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What is a Watt/hour (W/h)? |
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How do I measure my energy requirements? |
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What is an invereter? |
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How should my solar panel be orientated? |
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How much power does my appliance use? |
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What are Stand Alone systems? |
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What are Grid Connect systems? |
PV is short for photovoltaics (photo=light, voltaics=electricity). PV is a semiconductor-based technology used to convert light energy into direct current (dc) electricity, using no moving parts, consuming no conventional fuels, and creating no pollution.
A solar energy system has the advantage of being quick to install with a minimum requirement for site preperation. Also the modular design makes it very easy to extend the system should your energy requirements increase. They are ideal for stand alone and grid connect applications.
PV panels are guaranteed for 25 years by the manufacturer
Photovoltaics is in fact what most people mean when they refer to solar energy. Photovoltaics is a semi-conductor based technology similar to microchip, which converts light energy directly into an electric current that can either be used immediately or stored in a battery for later use.
What is a Watt/hour (Wh) ? - Top
The watt (W) is the unit of power. One watt of power is consumed when one volt causes one amp of current to flow. One thousand watts 1000w is called 1kW. Power = Current x Voltage. A watt hour (Wh) is a unit of energy equal to one watt of power being used for one hour. When considering how much energy you need for a solar system you take into account the rating of the appliance and the amount of time that will be used. E.G. a 50 Watt fan being used for 1 hour will use 50 Wh.
Inverters convert DC electricity stored in batteries into 220V AC power required to run conventional appliances. These are known as stand alone inverters. Some inverters can also feed power back into the grid and are known as ‘Grid Connect’ or synchronous inverters. More information on inverters can be found on our ‘Choosing an Inverter’ page.
Stand Alone applications - Top
Typical stand alone applications are:
- Rural and remote power needs,
- Maintaining the charge on infrequently used batteries,
- Remote lighting,
- Pumps and garden fountains,
- Charging boat batteries,
- Charging caravan batteries,
- Reliable power supplies for off grid locations
The grid-connected system generates and delivers electricity to a homes Alternating Current (AC) system without using batteries. The Solar Array (PV) acts like a power generation plant, supplying electricity to the grid. This is becoming very popular in Spain, as the electricity distribution company will buy the electricity from you for 0.4 Eur/Kwh.
