Solar Energy – How Does it Work?
You will have heard of renewable energy, a very fashionable phrase just now, especially given the rising costs of fossil fuels, and the ever increasing awareness of the impact on our planet. Solar Energy is “renewable energy” that comes from the sun. Solar power does not produce any emissions, it’s a clean energy source, and not forgetting we have it in abundance, its sustainable.
Let me describe this in an easier way. There are many kinds of energy comes in different forms, and one form can turn into another, for example, when you are sunning yourself, the sun’s rays warms your skin, be careful not to burn! Petrol engines of cars turn the chemical energy of petrol into motion, known as kinetic energy. And with Solar Power, the light of the sun is used to generate electrical energy.
The Sun Creates Energy
Planet earth is heated by a nuclear reactor, namely the Sun. The Sun releases energy by the smashing of atoms and has been successfully doing this for billions or years and will continue to do this for billions of years to come.
Light and heat are produced from the energy, with the energy traveling through space, reaching planet Earth. We experience that energy in the form of light, and importantly in the form of heat for our planet, not just our holidays!
Converting the Sun’s Energy into usable energy, namely Electricity using Solar Panels.
For the Suns Energy to be converted into electricity, it first must travel 93 million, before reaching you domestic solar panel, or indeed the familiar solar farm that is all more evident now.
Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic cells, you may see the terminology PV used. The PV is designed to capture the sun’s energy and convert it into usable energy. Solar panels are usually made from semiconductors, using silicon, a good material and system for converting the sunlight we all take for granted into electricity.
When the suns light hits the silicon semiconductors, the electrons separate from their atoms, and these electrons flow through the material to form an electrical current, and in turn the electrical current is used to power our homes and businesses.
Not all photovoltaic cells PV are the same. As we learn more about capturing the abundance of energy from the Sun, PV technology is changing, technology is improving, with PV efficiency improving. We see this clearly in our everyday products, such as phones, and the batteries that power them, and the same is true of cars. The energy banks are becoming smaller, yet more powerful. Only 15-20% of the energy captured by the Solar Panels is turned into electricity, and this is the efficiency rating that continue to improve.
You may also have heard of ‘active solar energy’, which is slightly different, so how does active solar energy work? Unlike PV cells, active solar energy is where the sun heats air or liquid, the heat of which is later translated into usable power.
Conversion of DC to AC
Solar panels produce electricity in the form of direct current (DC). DC current is the electricity used in batteries. AC current however is used to power all our domestic appliances, our machinery and such, in our homes and businesses. When using stored energy batteries, the DC electricity must be converted into AC in order for the domestic appliances can be used. But how does that solar panel energy work give us the energy we need at home or at our business?
The conversion of energy from the solar panel into usable electricity is done by using an inverter and this is installed as part of your renewable energy solution. The output of the electricity is changed by the employment of the Inverter, with the electrons first flowing one way, and then the other. The electrical grid uses AC, which is efficient, and the current is able to travel further.
Energy Storage or Usage
When the solar panels produce electricity, this can be fed back into the grid and a monitoring device is employed to monitor the amount of electricity produced. Typically, a smart meter would also be installed, enabling the user or producer to be compensated for the energy generated…… essentially you become your own energy supplier, a clear benefit.
The alternative to working in conjunction with the grid is energy storage by the means of batteries. Batteries are a vital part of the solar power system, enabling the electricity to be used when required, utilising the energy bank stored. If enough energy is produced and stored, the reliance on power from the grid can be significantly reduced, if not eliminated with the right system of panels and batteries. With the rising costs of fossil fuel generated electricity, generating your own energy will dramatically reduce the overall costs of energy.
So, what are the key Benefits of Solar Energy
Renewable energy generation is on the rise and Solar energy production being a fast, efficient and effective source of sustainable and clean electricity, free of emissions.
The following benefits to the environment and the individual are:
The Sun will continue to produce energy for billions of years to come and so essentially this energy will not run out, whereas fossil fuels such as Oil, Gas or Coal have a limited supply, and are not a clean energy in any way.
It’s important that the infrastructure used for solar energy production has a long-life span, and a benefit of solar panels PV is the majority of quality manufacturers will have a life span of 25 years. This limits the replacement infrastructure costs to a minimum.
Installing PV and producing your own electricity will reduce or even eliminate the reliance of grid energy, reducing your costs of electricity significantly.
Living in a world, focused on the environmental impact of energy production, and the greenhouse gases the global population is responsible for, solar energy helps reduce emissions given it has no reliance on fossil fuels, providing an energy source that is clean, sustainable, and renewable.
Solar energy reduces your carbon footprint.
Solar energy gives you more control over your power and costs.
Contact sales@batteriesnearme.co.uk for more information