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