| If you want information on solar | | | | parts are not necessary in order for the |
| electric systems, you've come to the | | | | system to produce power. Also the |
| right place. The environmental | | | | environmental impact is minimal at most |
| importance of alternative forms of | | | | and the system requires no water for |
| energy production is extremely important | | | | cooling and generates no by-products |
| in today's world. The use of solar | | | | that are harmful to the environment. |
| power, wind power and micro-hydro power | | | | Photovoltaic cells, or photovoltaic |
| should be actively encouraged to every | | | | devices (PV devices) as they are called |
| consumer and home owner alike | | | | are very much like batteries and they |
| everywhere. Solar power, wind power and | | | | generate direct current (DC) which is |
| micro-hydro power are non-polluting, | | | | generally used for small loads used for |
| renewable and sustainable forms of | | | | light electronic equipment. When DC |
| energy. | | | | from photovoltaic cells is used for |
| The sun has produced free energy for | | | | commercial applications or sold to |
| years and solar energy can be converted | | | | electric utilities using the electric |
| into other forms of energy, such as heat | | | | grid, it must be converted to |
| and electricity. It can be used to heat | | | | alternating current (AC) using a device |
| water for use in homes, buildings, or | | | | call an "inverter". Inverters are solid |
| swimming pools. It can also be used to | | | | state devices that convert DC power to |
| heat spaces such as inside homes, | | | | AC which in needed in the stead of DC |
| offices and other important buildings. | | | | for some applications, especially |
| Solar energy can be converted to | | | | commercial uses. |
| electricity and there are two different | | | | The performance of a photovoltaic array |
| ways of doing that. First, photovoltaic | | | | is absolutely and totally dependent upon |
| devices, also known as PV devices or | | | | sunlight and climate conditions. |
| solar cells, can change sunlight | | | | Climate conditions, including clouds and |
| directly into electricity. They are | | | | fog, have a significant effect on the |
| often used in remote locations that are | | | | amount of solar energy received by a |
| not connected to electrical grids. They | | | | photovoltaic device and its performance. |
| are also used to power smaller devices | | | | Most current technology photovoltaic |
| such as watches and calculators. They | | | | modules are about 10 percent efficient |
| are even used to power road signs that | | | | in converting sunlight. Further research |
| we often see everywhere. The other way | | | | is being conducted to raise this |
| is more of an indirect method used in | | | | efficiency to 20 percent. |
| solar power plants. They generate | | | | Understanding and installing your own |
| electricity by heating a fluid from | | | | solar electric system will give you a |
| power collected from the use of | | | | feeling of confidence and self-reliance. |
| photovoltaic devices then using the | | | | It will make you feel better about |
| heated fluid to generate steam which is | | | | harming the environment less. |
| in turn used to power generators. | | | | The author, Mike Dodd, has studied the |
| Some advantages of photovoltaic systems | | | | field of renewable energy sources and |
| are that the conversion from sunlight to | | | | know the advantages of using solar |
| electricity is direct and bulky | | | | energy. Renewable energy sources is one |
| mechanical generator systems with moving | | | | of his specialties. |