Solar Shingles

Solar shingles are an integrated photovoltaic (PV) product that directly generates electricity from sunlight and in some cases converts electricity to heat. They are made of the same material used in conventional solar panels: Wire Photo sensitive waterproof product Material to generate electric current in sunlight Like solar panels, solar shingles generate electricity. But, unlike solar...

Spray-on Solar Panels

Solar Panels According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), by 2020 photovoltaic (PV) technology will represent 15 percent of the energy consumed in the U.S. and the National Center for Photovoltaic (NCPV) expects that 10 percent of the power produced during peak times will be by solar energy. Solar energy is plentiful, clean, and renewable. In fact the amount of energy provided by...

Solar Panel Cleaning

Solar Panels Installing a Photovoltaic (PV) system represents a huge investment, but one that many feel is worth the price both financially and environmentally: PV systems convert sunlight into electricity without producing air pollution or hazardous wastes. In a typical year, fossil fuel plants produce 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide, as million tons of sulfur dioxide, and 7 million tons of...

Solar Energy at Night

The energy emanating from the sun can be converted into electricity by using: Photovoltaic Cells where semiconductor materials absorb photons and releases electrons, or Solar-Thermal Turbines that generate steam from the sun’s heat, spinning a turbine to produce electricity. Since cloudy days and nighttime limit the practical conversion time of the sun’s energy, traditional applications of...

Solar Panels – The Asphalt of the 21st Century?

With the increased focus on renewable energy, solar panels, which are more formally referred to as photovoltaic cells, are becoming more widespread in: Roofs of homes, reducing the amount and cost of purchased electricity, Roofs of hybrid cars, powering its air conditioner and thus placing less drag on the gasoline-powered engine, and Calculators and small electronic devices. There are thoughts...

Hybrid Cars and Solar Power

Hybrid electric cars try to save energy and reduce emissions wherever  possible while the car is running. Fuel efficiency is achieved when a vehicle is stopped, decelerating, or moving slowly in traffic because the gasoline engine switches off and an electric motor (which creates little or no emissions) switches on. The gasoline engine reengages only as the driver requires more power to reach...

Green Energy Sources

Environmentally friendly and non-polluting sources of energy are gaining a foothold in the international community’s efforts to plan for future electricity needs. Typically, the focus on green energy includes creating a renewable energy portfolio (e.g. bio-fuels, geothermal, wind, hydro power and its related wave and tidal technologies, and solar with some consideration for nuclear power) and...

Residential Photovoltaic Power Systems

Photovoltaic (PV) electric systems use solid state power inverters to convert DC voltage produced by PV panels (solar panels) during daylight hours into conventional residential AC voltage. Three Types of PV Electric Systems Solar Panel House These photovoltaic electrical systems can be categorized as one of three types: Stand-alone systems operate independent of the electric grid. Since the...

What is Alternative Energy?

Wind Power-Alternative Energy Alternative Energy (AE) is synonymous with the term renewable energy. Recent interest in AE resources has been brought about by a desire for: Independence from traditional power sources  (e.g. coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear), Decreased environmentally dangerous emissions, and Less price volatility as compared to the cost of fossil fuels (particularly...

An Introduction to Solar Power Generation

Solar Power Generation   There are three main types of solar power energy: Photovoltaic Solar Power Concentrating Solar Power Solar Thermal Energy   Photovoltaic Solar Power Technology Photovoltaic solar power results from electricity generated by solar cells by converting sunlight directly into electricity.  The basic solar principles (i.e. that certain materials can produce small...