In just a few short years, solar power has gone from a little engine that could to an unstoppable juggernaut in energy production. It is now an undeniable fact that the future of energy will rest solidly on solar-power generation. [continue reading…]
Revised 5/6/2013 – Thin Film Solar (TFS) panels may be the latest technology in solar power, but they are not necessarily better in terms of their power delivery, a researcher has said. “From a materials point of view, TFS panels that are in commercial production are not fundamentally more efficient than the latest Silicon (Si) crystalline photovoltaic (PV) solar panels,” Dr Frederik Vorster, senior researcher at the Photovoltaics Research Unit, in the Centre for Energy Research (CER), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University reports in an intervice. [continue reading…]
The larges utility producer in Hawaii recently announced it was relaxing one of the requirements for home solar grid tied installations for its customers. As of Oct. 1, residential and some commercial customers on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island with new grid tied solar systems of up to 10 kilowatts will not be required to pay for an interconnection study. Maui Electric Co. and Hawaii Electric Light Co. are subsidiaries of Oahu-based HECO. [continue reading…]
Iowa is a surprising comer for solar installations. A state senator wants Iowa to spend $3.1 million to fund an infusion of solar panel energy capability at the University of Iowa. The proposal could save the university about $100,000 annually in energy costs, create short-term jobs, reduce carbon emissions and be a step forward for promoting solar energy in the state, Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, said during a press conference announcing his proposal Tuesday in front of Kinnick Stadium. [continue reading…]
If does not make much sense to spend money on an off-grid system without first looking at energy efficient appliances. The use of efficient appliances and lighting, as well as non-electric alternatives, can pay large dividends after designing your off-grid system and its time to plop down the money. Living off the grid using low energy lights and appliances can not only save you money up front, on those dark days when you are trying to save every watt of power you can out of you’re battery bank, you will be glad you put a little thought into energy conservation up front. The type of lights and appliances that can be used living off-grid depends on how much sun is available, and the voltage of the off-grid system. [continue reading…]
New Jersey solar project developer to use top-quality and competitively priced solar panels from Talesun Solar for a utility-scale project. Talesun Solar USA a globally positioned, premium producer of solar panels, recently announced that it has signed a contract to supply solar panels to New Jersey-based solar developer Alethea Cleantech Advisors LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, Talesun Solar USA will deliver approximately 32 megawatts (MW) of solar modules during 2012. For those out there wondering how many solar panels that is… well its a bunch, around 128,000 panels! [continue reading…]
Helping customers figure out what type of off-grid solar kit that would be best for them is a fun part of my job. For customers who want an off-grid solar system and where their is local utility service available, there are a couple of choices. They can either decide not to pay the utility company to bring power back to the property, or just operate off grid or do both. A home solar system that is grid tied as well as off-grid is called a bimodal system. [continue reading…]
Solar panels have to be the most magnificent discovery in modern times short of the computer chip. 2nd best discovery, simple solar kits that any homeowner can tackle. Imagine the possibility of a endless supply of electricity hitting the earths surface every day that can power the world many times over. Sunlight is made up of tiny packets of energy called protons. Solar panels are made up of solar cells which are constructed from simple materials that have a small number of electrons, like silicon, with a positive and negative field. As photons are absorbed in the cell as electrons and are pushed or promoted to the bottom of the cell towards the positive connection. When there is a circuit, the electrons or electricity moves down a wire to power our electronic devices. This simple technology has no moving parts to wear out so you can expect the solar panels in your home solar kit to last most of your life. [continue reading…]
As the demand for renewable energy increases, the needs of home and cabin owners are rapidly evolving as well. OutBack Power, a company that has set the standard in off-grid and grid tied solar systems has come out with a new battery cell that easily fits into their new integrated pre-build battery rack. OutBack is responding by engineering its acclaimed line of balance-of-system components into pre-assembled systems to give solar installers and DIY homeowners the best of both worlds: OutBack quality in a more easily specified and installed package. Batteries and off-grid solar was never easier. [continue reading…]
Simple off-grid 120 / 240 volt AC power kit that is expandable with solar panels and a pre-wired power center all made in America. This 1410 watt off-grid solar kit is powerful enough to produce 212 kWh per month of pure sine wave electricity. We pre-wire the power center then package the whole kit so you can complete the wiring with a minimal amount of expertise needed. DIY off-grid solar made easy for you providing the line drawing showing the connections and instruction manuals. [continue reading…]
When I am on the water my sence of freedom is off-the-chart. I am happiest when it’s just a few friends and the open sea. Noisy motors or generators are not my cup of tea so sailing with friends who have installed an Air marine wind turbine or marine solar panel makes the trip even more enjoyable. [continue reading…]
Home emergency backup power that is so simple even the weekend DIY can tackle it with ease. Magnum MS4448PAE E-Panel System is shipped pre-wired and ready to hang and connect with all the essential protective electronic devices with a very small footprint. Magnum /Midnite Solar E-Panel power systems are ideal for applications with minimal to medium power requirements such as off-grid cabins, homes and back-up power systems. [continue reading…]