Solar panels work with the sun as the sunlight is composed of small particles called photons; these photons are converted into electricity with the help of solar panels and give the power supply to the house.
How do solar panels work? (1)
The solar panel is made of small solar cells. Photons from sunlight hit the solar cells and lose electrons from their atoms. An electric circuit is formed when conductors of the solar panel are attached to the NEGATIVE and POSITIVE side of the cell. The flow of electrons throughout the circuit produces electricity. Several cells are used to make a solar panel and many panel modules are wired to make the solar array. If you expect to produce more energy more panels are required to deploy.
Solar panels made of?
Solar panels or PV are made up of multiple solar cells. Similar to semiconductors, these cells are also made of silicon. The positive and negative layer is constructed in the solar panel which together generates an electric field same like a battery.
Pros and cons of solar panels:
Everything has advantages and disadvantages no matter how expensive and efficient it is. Here is the list of pros and cons of a solar panel.
Advantages of solar panel
- Renewable energy source:
Above all the most important benefit of this solar energy is that it is a truly renewable source of energy. It can be utilized in all areas and it is easily available everywhere. Like some other sources of energy, we can’t dry up solar energy. This energy will be available as long the sun is available to us. According to some scientists, the sun will be available to us for at least five billion years, after that it may die.
- Reduce electricity bills:
When you use electricity generated from solar panels in your houses, electricity bills automatically dropped. It depends on the size of the solar panel that how much energy you can save. The bigger the size of a solar panel more bills can be reduced. If you use COMMERCIAL SOLAR PANELS, you can save more money from bills and earn huge benefits from this.
- Diverse Applications:
Solar energy can be utilized for many purposes such as producing electricity or heat. Solar energy is used in areas where there are no grid stations for electricity, also in areas where a limited water supply of clean water is available. Moreover, it is also used to power the satellite present in space. Solar panels can be fused with materials that are used in the construction of buildings.
- Low maintenance cost:
Solar panels don’t require a lot of maintenance cost. You just need to keep them clean most of the time and proper cleaning for a bunch of times per year can be sufficient for it. If you have any doubt about cleaning them, you can hire special companies that are specialized in cleaning and they offer their services for £25 to £35. Moreover, there are no moving parts of the solar panel so you don’t need to worry about wear and tear. The only inverter of the solar panel needs to be changed but after five to ten years because it is continuously on job to produce heat and electricity. The cables of the solar panel also require maintenance to make sure that your system produces maximum power. So, here is a brief view of maintenance cost and you have to spend very low maintenance cost and renovation work.
- Technology development:
Solar panels are the technology industry, so advancements and improvements in this technology will get dense in the future. Revolution in QUANTUM PHYSICS and NANOTECHNOLOGY will increase the potency of solar panels and electric input of solar panels will get double or even triple.
Disadvantages of solar panels:
Cost:
The initial purchasing price of the solar panel is quite high. The cost of buying a solar panel, battery, its inverter and wiring, and above all the installation makes the cost high. As the technology is constantly improving so we can expect that cost will decrease in the future for sure.
Weather dependent:
Solar panels can get solar energy even in cloudy or rainy weather but the efficacy is not the same as on a sunny day. Solar panels greatly depend on sunlight for producing energy and working effectively. Therefore, cloudy and rainy days have a great effect on the solar panel’s efficacy. You should also remember solar panels can’t find energy at night. If you want your water heating solution to do its job at night you should consider thermodynamic panels as an alternate.
Uses lots of space:
If you need to produce more electricity then you need to install a huge system of solar panels, but big systems require more space for installation. Roofs are not enough for such panels and you need to install them in a yard where enough sunlight is present. If you don’t have all these you have to compromise with the small solar panel to produce electricity.
Cost of a solar panel: (2)
According to the SUSTAINABLE ENERGY CENTER, a solar system can cost you $15,000 to $25,000 with installation. Solar panels help you reduce your upcoming electricity bills so this return on investment is worthwhile.
Installation of solar panel:
Following are the steps for installation of solar panel:
- Set up the scaffolding
- Mount installation of solar panels
- Installation of solar panel
- Wiring of solar panel
- Installation of inverter
- Connecting solar inverter with solar battery
- Connection of inverter to the consumer unit
- Switch on the power and test the solar panel.
Return on investment of solar panels:
Payback of solar panels is the time when you get your money back you invested on solar panels including the cost of solar panels and installation. For most of the solar panel consumers this time period is roughly eight years. The combined cost is divided by annual benefits to getting the payback period. For instance, you pay for the solar panel including installation worth $20,000 and you save $2,500 per year on energy bills, then your payback period will be 8 years $20,000/ $2,500 = 08 years.
References:
