An Introduction On Residential Solar Power
Human history took a major turn about three or four centuries back when we encountered the industrial revolution. And, once again we are standing on the threshold of yet another major event that might reshape our destiny. Residential solar power could take our living standards to a different level altogether.
Solar power is actually the heat that we receive from the Sun on a daily basis. The Earth, being placed at a certain distance from the Sun, receives enough light and heat to keep it warm. The solar power technology looks to harness this energy.
The next question that comes to our mind is; how do we harness this enormous amount of energy?
The answer is; by using a device called a solar panel. A solar panel collects and converts the light that comes from the Sun directly into heat or electricity. This heat or electricity is then stored in appropriate cells and used simultaneously or later on, to meet different domestic or out-door purposes. Solar panels first came to be used about a hundred years back to heat water at homes. Solar panels use a particular technology called the photovoltaic technology. Applicable not only to domestic purposes, but also to other large scale purposes, it is receiving maximum attention from research analysts from all over the world. Photovoltaic cells or solar cells are used for this purpose. These cells are interconnected to each other through electrical wiring. This forms a photovoltaic array. Now, since these require protection from the environment, fiber glass covering and metal or fiber glass backing is added. This is the photovoltaic panel, or the solar panel that we are talking about. A solar panel typically includes, along with the arrays, an inverter, batteries and electrical wiring. This way, the renewable electrical energy once produced gets accumulated in stocks, for usage when the Sun is down. Solar energy is also used exclusively for heating purposes. This technology, however, is much different from the photovoltaic cells technology that we have already discussed. It consists of flat mirrors and lenses. These mirrors and lenses focus and concentrate the sunlight at a certain angle, which heats up the surrounding liquid. The Solar thermal energy technology is used to produce electricity. Production of electricity in large scale becomes possible once the solar hot water panels and the solar thermal collectors are added to the solar thermal energy devices. Over the years, major developments have happened in this field. Alternative choices such as solar powered air conditioners, room heaters, lamps, fans, and so on, forming a complete kit have opened up for the regular householder. Therefore, we see that residential solar power has opened up the possibility of cutting our costs by huge margins on our daily domestic power expenditure.
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