The Importance of Solar Power Electricity

Solar power electricity, also known technically as photovoltaic (PV) systems, is for several reasons an important energy source.  It has numerous environmental benefits, it contributes to the nation’s energy security, and as it costs increasingly less to produce and use it becomes more affordable and available.  Solar power electricity production has virtually no negative impact on the environment as it quietly generates electricity from light.  While they’re operating, PV systems produce no air pollution, hazardous waste, or noise, and they require no transportable fuels.  And, because its sunlight is both abundant and free, PV systems can guarantee access to electric power.  Additionally, a solar power house equipped with solar power electricity generation frees the homeowner from the cost and uncertainties surrounding energy supplies from politically unstable regions.  Once installed, PV systems can produce power continuously with little upkeep and minimal operating costs.

Solar Power Electricity Basics

Solar power electricity is actually produced by photovoltaic (PV) technology.  The word photovoltaic has two parts: photo, derived from the Greek word for light, and volt, relating to electricity pioneer Alessandro Volta.  So, photovoltaics can be literally translated as light-electricity. And that’s what PV materials and devices do — they convert light energy (as opposed to thermal energy) into electrical energy.  Currently, PV has so many applications it likely touches the lives of most people in some way.

Commonly referred to as solar cells, individual PV cells are electricity-producing devices made of semiconductor materials.  These cells are made from a variety of semiconductor materials, deposited or arranged in various structures, to create solar cells that have an optimal level of performance.  The three main types of materials used for solar cells are: silicon; polycrystalline thin films; and single-crystalline thin film.  Solar cells are the basic building block for any solar power electricity system and are several inches across.

Solar Power Electricity Systems

The basic PV solar cell typically produces only a small amount of power.  To produce more power, cells are interconnected to form PV panels that may be up to several feet long and a few feet wide.  Panels can then in turn be connected into arrays to produce even more power. Because of this modularity feature, solar power electricity systems can be designed to meet any electrical requirement, no matter how large or small.  Appropriate sizing of an array for a solar power home is based on several factors, such as the amount of sunlight available in a particular location and the needs of the consumer.

The panels, which in a solar power house application are flat-plate panels, of the array make up the major part of a solar power electricity system.  However, by themselves, panels or arrays do not represent an entire solar power electricity system.  Structures on which to put them that point them toward the sun, and components that convert the direct-current electricity produced by the solar cells into alternate-current electricity are also required.  Also, batteries are required if electricity is to be stored for subsequent use.   All such additional items are referred to as the “balance of system” (BOS) components.

Combining an array of panels with the BOS components creates an entire solar power electricity system. This system is usually everything needed to meet a particular house energy demand, such as: solar home heating, powering appliances and lights in a home, or all the electrical requirements of the entire solar power house if the system is large enough.  Solar power electricity-generation systems such are some of the most elegant and environmentally benign energy systems ever invented. 

For the person ready to begin benefiting from solar power electricity who is also interested in exploring the most cost-effective approach, the “Do It Yourself” (DIY) approach is something to be seriously considered.  I have personally investigated several DIY packages and the GreenDIYenergy package featured at the right-top is the best value I have found.  It is inexpensive, the “how-to” is comprehensively presented, and it is simple to use.  Check it out for yourself at no financial risk.