Will my system work on cloudy days?
Yes, though they produce less electricity. Under a light overcast sky, panels might produce about half as much as under full sun.
Do PowerFilm solar panels need maintenance?
Solar Panels are very low maintenance in general. As long as you perform routine checks of the wiring to insure that it maintains its integrity, and wipe off the panel with a damp cloth to remove any dirt and grime that has built up on it, your panels should last a very long time.
How will my solar power work with my grid-connected utility company? What is net metering?
When the sun's DC power is converted to AC output, a meter records the kWh of solar energy that your panels have produced. When you are using the exact amount of power that your solar system has produced, the meter stays still. If you are producing less than you are using, then you will draw electricity to use from your utility you are are producing more than you are using, the excess power will spin backwards and collect credit for...
How do solar thermal power plants work?
Solar thermal power plants work very similarly to nuclear and coal power plants. Except solar thermal power plants use a variety of techniques to maximize the concentration of the sun's energy as a heat source. For example, one technique is employing the use of movable mirrors to focus the sun's rays on a tower which collects the light rays. This heat is then used to boil water which drives a steam turbine that will generate electricity.
How to determine the size of solar panel or flexible solar panel I need to get for a desired voltage?
The voltage will vary with the size of the solar panel. Remember Watts (W) = Volts (V) * Amps (A)
Does solar energy work all the time? What about at night and cloudy days?
The sun is needed for solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. During times when sunlight is not available, the solar panel goes into sleep mode or standby mode. There are two solutions if electricity is needed when sunlight is absent. Solution one is switching to a utility grid that can be simultaneously used along with solar power. Solution two is to install a battery that stores the electricity that was converted thoughout the day by the solar panels for...
What size solar system do I need?
You can view estimated system sizes depending on your home or business's typical monthly electricity usage (kwh). For example, the typical US residential home uses about 800 kWh/month, which translates to about a 5.5 kW system (Assuming average daily sunlight of 4.5 hours and 100% of electricity needs covered from your solar system).
What kind of government subsidies and financial incentives are there for solar energy?
The government often offer federal tax credits on commercial and residential installation of renewable energy systems. A tax payer may claim a tax credit of 30% for a solar water heating system including labor cost. This incentives ends in December 31, 2016. There is no maximum credit for solar water and space heating systems.There are also many states incentives that encourages installation of renewable energy such as the California Solar Initiative (CSI). An up-to-date database of available incentives and pro-solar...
What materials do you need to make a solar panel?
Generally the materials that you need to build a solar panel will include the following: A battery, some plywood painted with UV paint, wire, diode, Plexiglas, Jones plug, screws, super glue, silicon sealant and a solar cell and a guiding manual to get the job done! Also something to keep in mind for solar cells specifically is that trying to build your own solar cells will most likely cost more than it is worth, so its better to skip this...
How many solar panels do I need to run my house?
The amount of solar panels needed to run a solar system in your house can be estimated by how much you approximately pay for your monthly electricity bill. There are many solar panel calculators available online by which you can determine the approximate number of solar panels you will need for your home simply entering in the average amount you pay for your monthly electricity bill.
