Harnessing the power of the sun and converting it to energy we can use for our every day needs is achieved through several methods. The two most common are the Photovoltaic system or PV system, that converts sunlight directly into electricity and the Concentrating Solar Power, or CSP system, which uses the heat from the sun instead of fossil fuel, to provide the heat to fuel a traditional power plant.
The best-known solar power system is the photovoltaic system, made up of semiconducting material which, when exposed to sunlight, releases electrical power. Energy produced by PV solar power systems is renewable, environmentally-friendly and highly cost effective for long-term use. Once a system is installed, the power of the sun is all that is needed.
PV solar power systems for the home produce energy that goes into a power inverter, which changes the electric current from direct to alternating current before being routed to the home. This makes the resulting power indistinguishable from the electricity that you would receive through conventional power generation from your local utility through your homes circuit breaker panel. After it travels through the inverter, the electricity may then be sent to power your appliances and lights, or else it may be sent to a power storage system, consisting of an array of batteries, which will ensure that you have power after sunset.
Homes or cabins in remote locations can be powered solely by a PV system when properly planned and installed. This is often much more cost effective than paying for the power company to connect you to the existing power grid, depending upon how far you are from the nearest utility pole. In some applications this can be miles, and cost the same or much more than a solar power system with no return on your investment.
A solar power system that utilizes solar-thermal technology is called Concentrating Solar Power. A CSP system, as it is often called, uses a complex array of panels and mirrors that collects sunlight and heat from the sun. This heat is then transferred to a generator. This is done by either by transporting the energy directly or through the use of fluids in the solar panel system. The heat generated by coal or other fossil fuels used in most power plants to produce power could feasibly be replaced using the CSP system.
Individuals and businesses alike can save considerably when deciding to utilize solar power systems. Monthly energy bills can be lowered dramatically when you install a solar power system to work in conjunction with your existing electric supply and literally nonexistent when it is your primary source.
When you consider that other costly home improvements such as installing a deck or adding another room typically won't pay for itself until you unload the house, hopefully at a profit, the initial cost of installing a solar power system seems less daunting. Depending on your usage, over the course of just a few years, you can not only recover your costs, you'll end up saving all the money that you would have otherwise had to pay to the utility company. - 15437
The best-known solar power system is the photovoltaic system, made up of semiconducting material which, when exposed to sunlight, releases electrical power. Energy produced by PV solar power systems is renewable, environmentally-friendly and highly cost effective for long-term use. Once a system is installed, the power of the sun is all that is needed.
PV solar power systems for the home produce energy that goes into a power inverter, which changes the electric current from direct to alternating current before being routed to the home. This makes the resulting power indistinguishable from the electricity that you would receive through conventional power generation from your local utility through your homes circuit breaker panel. After it travels through the inverter, the electricity may then be sent to power your appliances and lights, or else it may be sent to a power storage system, consisting of an array of batteries, which will ensure that you have power after sunset.
Homes or cabins in remote locations can be powered solely by a PV system when properly planned and installed. This is often much more cost effective than paying for the power company to connect you to the existing power grid, depending upon how far you are from the nearest utility pole. In some applications this can be miles, and cost the same or much more than a solar power system with no return on your investment.
A solar power system that utilizes solar-thermal technology is called Concentrating Solar Power. A CSP system, as it is often called, uses a complex array of panels and mirrors that collects sunlight and heat from the sun. This heat is then transferred to a generator. This is done by either by transporting the energy directly or through the use of fluids in the solar panel system. The heat generated by coal or other fossil fuels used in most power plants to produce power could feasibly be replaced using the CSP system.
Individuals and businesses alike can save considerably when deciding to utilize solar power systems. Monthly energy bills can be lowered dramatically when you install a solar power system to work in conjunction with your existing electric supply and literally nonexistent when it is your primary source.
When you consider that other costly home improvements such as installing a deck or adding another room typically won't pay for itself until you unload the house, hopefully at a profit, the initial cost of installing a solar power system seems less daunting. Depending on your usage, over the course of just a few years, you can not only recover your costs, you'll end up saving all the money that you would have otherwise had to pay to the utility company. - 15437
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