The need for alternative sources of power has become more and more pressing day by day. Cost and supply of conventional fuel have gone out of whack and the results of their wastes and emission on the environment going from bad to worse. If ever there was a time for substitute solutions for power, it’s right now! Actually, clean and renewable energy sources have been around for a long time: hydro, wind and solar power.
Sizing a solar power system for your home is not that critical, since additional solar modules can be added any time, and a backup generator can supplement charging if there is a shortfall. There is some flexibility because the power you receive changes with the sunshine of each year and with seasonal changes in weather. Your own flexibility in energy usage, plus use of a backup generator allows you to adjust to temporary shortages, while the automatic charge control manages any overproduction.
Solar energy has the power to be reliable, cost effective and environmentally friendly sources of electricity, and it has to meet high standards of dependability and economic efficiency. Typical solar modules have a life of around 25 years and you have the advantage of low maintenance. Also, one can save some costs by replacing traditional roofing systems. It can be as easy as just a solar module and a load, as in the direct powering of a water pump motor, or more complex as in a system to power a modern home. It can always be expanded, provided that you also enlarge the wiring and protection devices.
Photovoltaic (PV) power systems convert sunlight directly into electricity. A residential solar power system enables a homeowner to generate some or all of their daily electrical energy demand on their own roof, exchanging daytime excess power for future energy needs (i.e. nighttime usage). The house remains tied to the electric utility at all times, so any power needed above what the solar system can produce is simply drawn from the utility. PV systems can also include deep cycle battery backup or uninterpretable power supply (UPS) capability of operating selected circuits in the home for hours or days during a utility outage. In this early stage of selling solar power systems to the residential market, it is advisable for installers to work with well established firms that have complete, pre-engineered packaged systems that accommodate variations in models, rather than custom designing custom systems. Once a system design has been chosen, attention to installation detail is extremely important. Recent studies have found that 10-20% of new PV installations have grave installation problems that will result in significantly decreased electrical output.
Solar energy is increasingly making an impact on modern society on numerous fronts, but residential solar power users are where it has gained the most exposure. These people are by and large forced into the situation by the cost and emission concerns associated with fossil fuel energy. Technology-based lifestyle also cannot afford to continue to be at the mercy of power outages and residential solar power provides just the answer.