Solar PV

Solar PV    Generate Electricity from the Sun!  
                                                                        Solar PV Case Study

 

 Using the sun / daylight to create electricity for your home!  This is certainly an interesting concept, especially considering recent economic issues.  Choosing Solar Photovoltaic power requires careful consideration, but can have many key benefits, depending on the requirements of the household.

 

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems can be used to convert sunlight / daylight directly to electricity.  These systems use solar cells made up of semiconductor materials.  The (small) PV cells can be connected together to form larger modules/panels, depending on the specific requirements.

PV integration
Image Source: EPIA

 

Typical components of a Solar PV system include:

 

  • Solar PV panels
  • Inverters to convert the Direct-Current (DC) electricity to Alternate-Current (AC) electricity for use in the home
  • Structure/brackets to mount the panels towards the sunlight
  • Batteries(optional) & Wiring

 

Factors:

 

When considering the option of installing solar panels, there are some key factors to evaluate:

 

The most important thing to do is to work out what you are currently spending on hot water/electricity, because you cannot save what you are not spending!

 

A properly designed, well insulated, efficient hot water system in a house occupied by two people uses approximately 5.1 kWh of electricity per day… or 1,860 kWh per annum.

 

An energy efficient house in Ireland needs about 12m2 of solar PV panel to meet its daytime electrical demand.  If this solar PV system is properly designed it will  generate over 1,500 kWh of (high value daytime) electricity per annum.

 

You will need to determine if there is a suitable place to put the panels.  They will need to be placed in an area that is shade free throughout the year, ideally facing due south, and sloping towards the south at between 25° and 45°.

 

The panels can be placed on a sloping roof, a flat roof, on a garage or on the ground.

 

Solar PV systems can be located remotely as there are very little “line losses” if they are properly designed.

 

It is important to work out how to connect the system to the household circuits.  Generally solar PV systems can connect to the existing mains wiring, usually at the distribution board, and is then distributed to existing appliances using the existing wiring.

Reasons to consider using solar photovoltaic (PV) technology

  • The electricity is generated by the sun and the good news is this fuel supply is free – you will never get a bill from the sun
  • PV systems are safe and reliable – with an estimated lifespan of approximately 30 years and their efficiency over time does not substantially degrade, typically retaining in the order of 80% of the initial power after 25 years
  • It’s ongoing maintenance requirements are very low
  • It is quiet, produces no harmful emissions and contributes towards a reduction in global warming
  • The pv panels can be aesthetically integrated into the building’s cladding if required
  • As a result of the introduction of feed-in tariffs the payback time is getting less – for every kWh of electricity produced and exported to the grid you get paid for it. See the following case study……Solar PV Case Study
  • It contributes towards the security of Europe’s electricity supply

  

Heat Loss:

This problem doesn’t arise with solar PV collectors as there are no thermal losses with these systems.