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Understanding What Makes A Solar Power System Tick
from: With more people looking for ways to help lower their carbon footprints while sparing their wallets extra expenses, the solar power system is beginning to be noticed more and more. These once rather cumbersome creations can now help power homes in remote locations, augment commercial electrical operations and even assist homeowners in offsetting their energy expenses in small and big ways. The viability of a solar power system, however, is something that many skeptics question. The reality is these designs might not be perfect, but they can make an impact in consumption of non-renewable energy. Understanding just how they function can help point out the potential perks and even the flaws in the system.A basic solar power system has several main components. The overall viability of a solar power system for helping take a home or business off an electrical grid or effectively offsetting a portion of electrical use will depend on the efficiency of each component in the design. A solar power system functions using these components:
• Solar cells, panels or arrays – To function, a solar power system must have some mechanism for collecting the sun’s photon energy. Very small systems might work using smaller solar cells. A solar power system that is designed to operate a single appliance or an entire building will require solar panels or solar panel arrays (or arrangements) to absorb enough energy to accomplish the job at hand. Once cells or panels absorb the sun’s energy, they are designed to transform it into DC power. The overall efficiency of a solar power system will hinge partially on how well solar panels can absorb and transform the sun’s power into DC power.
• An inverter – This component is required to take the DC energy created by the solar panels and turn it into alternating current energy. AC power is the type of electricity required by most major electrical appliances and systems. The inverter can also impact efficiency of a system based on how well it transforms DC power into AC electricity. A certain amount of loss is generally expected in the transformation.
• A battery or batteries – These are used to store the created AC power for future use in electrical systems. Batteries, of course, can impact efficiency based on a number of factors. For example, if a battery doesn’t hold a charge very well, the collected power from the solar panels can be lost in the translation.
The overall effectiveness of a solar power system can be impacted by a number of different factors. Today’s designs, however, have come a long way in overall cost-effectiveness and efficiency. In fact, solar power system models are now used as the sole power outlet in many remote locations and some home and business owners rely on these systems to provide them backup power in emergencies. While they might not be perfect, these systems can get the job done.
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California Regulators Approve San Diego Solar Power Initiative - GetSolar.com (blog)
 BrighterEnergy.org | California Regulators Approve San Diego Solar Power Initiative GetSolar.com (blog) "This program is beneficial because it further expands our solar power footprint within our service territory and brings that clean, renewable power closer ... San Diego Gas & Electric cleared for 100MW solar program State Regulators Approve SDG&E Solar Power Initiative CPUC Approves 100 MW SDG&E Solar Power Initiative |
Solar ecosystem - Boulder County Business Report
 Boulder County Business Report | Solar ecosystem Boulder County Business Report Behind these projects is Main Street Power Co. Inc. of Boulder. The company doesn't develop new technologies or manufacture solar panels. ... The First Derivative of Solar Sherwood participates in 'Sun Power for Schools' Hahira homeowner goes green with solar power system |
Word To Obama: Put Solar Panels On the White House - Care2.com (blog)
 USA Today | Word To Obama: Put Solar Panels On the White House Care2.com (blog) Sungevity offered the White House free rooftop solar panels. The company says its 102 panel, 17.85 kilowatt solar power system would reduce White House ... Unity College Team Plans Solar Road Trip Headed to White House Solar Panels Offered to President Obama UW Oshkosh is going solar |
California Utilities Approved for 616 Megawatts of Solar Deals - Bloomberg
 Everything Long Beach (press release) | California Utilities Approved for 616 Megawatts of Solar Deals Bloomberg Power deliveries are expected to begin in 2013, the commission said. NRG originally intended to develop a 92-megawatt project using ESolar's solar-thermal ... Gigawatts of Solar Power Approved, While Dirty Plants Falter Friday Green Numbers round-up 09/03/2010 Regulators Approve Southern California Edison-First Solar Power Contracts |
Don't use more energy than you need - Creston News Advertiser
 Money Hospital (blog) | Don't use more energy than you need Creston News Advertiser Understanding solar systems need not be daunting. Here are the ABC's to get you on the path to saving money and lowering your energy bill: Solar power ... PRINCETON: Township utility poles to get solar panels Few B.C. homeowners eager to convert to solar electricity Largest Urban Solar “Farm” |