Solar technology has been around for many years. However, it is only in recent times that the size and cost of solar panels have been reduced to a level where they can be purchased and installed by the average homeowner. Below is the answer to two questions about how solar panels work and the benefits of installing them on your property:
How do solar panels work?
A solar panel is made up of a series of photovoltaic cells. These cells absorb particles of light. As the light is absorbed, it frees electrons from the atoms within the cell. As these electrons are released, they generate electrical power. This power can then be used to power the appliances and lights in your home. Although installing solar panels can require a large upfront investment of between $4400 and $8243, the free electricity generated and the savings on your power bills will typically cover the cost of installation after a period of time. You may also be able to save money by applying for support via the government's Renewable Energy Target scheme, which aims to encourage communities to embrace green energy. Once you have broken even by saving money on your energy bills, you will have a source of free power which will last for many years.
Can I store the power generated by my solar panels?
Storage used to be a major issue when it came to solar power. After all, when the sun is shining, you are less likely to need to power the lights inside your home. Once the sunsets, your panels will no longer generate any electricity. Thankfully, developments in battery technology such as the Tesla Powerwall now mean that it is possible to store large amounts of power in a relatively small battery. If you do not wish to store any excess power generated by your solar panels, you could instead choose to sell it back to the government. To do this, you would need to sign up for an energy generation scheme which would connect your solar panels to the national grid. When your home is not drawing power from the panels, the power will be fed back into the public power supply. You will be paid a fee for every kW of energy you provide.
If you would like to find out more, you should contact an energy provider who specialises in solar panels.
My name is Tina and I am a big fan of the planet we live on. I didn't always use to be this way. In the past, I would throw trash all over the place. I would leave the lights in my house turned on when I was out. And I didn't worry about recycling. However, one day, my kid came home from school and said he had been learning about recycling. He was pretty upset and said I should do more to save the planet. So, I did. I hope this blog helps you to do more to protect the environment.