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Exploring the Uses of Solar Power

Solar power usage is on the rise worldwide. In Australia, the government would like to be using 20% renewable energy by 2020, by means of such sources as solar, wind, geothermal and hydro energy.


You can do your part to contribute to this trend in clean and green energy use by having solar power panels and a solar water heater added to your home.

This form of energy is healthier for the environment because it does not require the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, which cause greenhouse gases.


The Basics of Solar Power

Solar power is basically using the sun’s rays and converting it into energy that can be withdrawn to make all sorts of things work.


You’ve most likely seen an electronic calculator is sourced by solar power, and now the technologies range to items such as e-books, wheelchairs, keyboards and even automobiles.


While these advances in using solar electricity are new, the use of solar power energy for the home has been around for some time.


In fact, it’s been found that in Leonard Da Vinci’s notebooks from the 15th century, he had plans for capturing the energy of the sun.


The first is passive solar power, in which the design of a structure is made so that sunlight can be available to both provide light to function in the space and to store it in materials such as masonry and tile for warmth.

The sun’s rays can be used in many different ways.


Trees and other growth can protect windows from the sun in order to shade the structure in the months of higher temperatures.

Another form is thermal solar power, in which the heat of the sun is captured to heat water used in daily use or for a pool.


Having these two forms of using the sun are relatively inexpensive and do not require huge installations.

It’s a good first way to introduce using solar power in the home.


Understanding Solar Power Panels

The third way to capture solar power is to use solar power panels. These are becoming used more frequently in the home and business place as a way to affordably depend on renewable energy such as the sun. To understand the production of these panels, we must explore a bit of chemistry.


Silicon is the agent used in the production of solar panel cells because of its ability to combine with other

elements to create a positive or negative charge.

The silicon by itself has four electrons circling around the nucleus in its natural state, yet has room for four more. In the production of solar panels, two silicon plates are combined, yet with this arrangement; there would be no charge, because it allows for just the eight electrons. Five more electrons gives the silicon a negative charge and three more gives it a positive charge.


The silicon must be combined with another element to create a charge

to generate electricity.

Two commonly used elements are phosphorus, with five electrons, and boron has three. The additional phosphorus electron must stay bonded to the phosphorus atoms, but isn’t needed by the silicon, while the three boron electrons create a positive charge in the silicon.


When the two plates are combined, electricity is created when the electromagnetic photons of the sun hit the silicon/phosphorus plate and it releases the electron.

This one electron by itself does not create a great deal of solar power energy, but the combination of many cells will produce much electricity.


This combination of light and the panels is called a photovoltaic (PV) system, and refers to the use of

light (photo) to create energy (voltaic). Solar panels are undergoing development to make them

even more efficient and less expensive to the homeowner. There are excellent possibilities to

increasing the bandwidth of useable light that can be converted into electricity in the future.


Solar power electricity is measured in kilowatt hours, meaning that 1 kilowatt equals 1000 watts – or the power needed to generate light for 10, 100 watt light bulbs. The reason it’s good to know that wattage is that as a homeowner with solar power panels, for every kilowatt hour that your solar panels contribute to the electricity grid, you will be credited.

Using Solar Power Electricity


Extra solar energy that you do not use in your home is fed to the electricity provider if you have established a contract and a metering system with them.

Other methods are for the system to collect that solar power in a battery where the energy is stored for later use.


Solar power electricity can be used in the home in many ways. One method is merely for lighting. People typically start with a solar panel to fulfill outdoor lighting needs, yet it can easily be incorporated to indoor lighting as well.

Path lighting and spot lights on a patio, shed or garage are most commonly used outdoors, while indoor solar lighting will function to softly illuminate a living or dining room or an indoor security light.


This system will most likely not be fed off of the power provider electricity grid, however. Otherwise, everything in the home can run

off the solar power when available, from the blender to the blow dryer.


The more space that a home can utilize to install solar power panels, the larger they can be to absorb the sun’s rays and thus create more electricity for use in the home.

Solar Power Panel Installation


The panels can be installed on rooftops and as stand alone facilities.

To perform optimally, they should receive maximum sun exposure.


When installed, the considerations of the angle of the sun at all times of the year should be taken into account. In addition, any trees that will shade the panels will need to be trimmed, and check for any other obstacles that will shade the sun.


The variables included in setting up solar electricity include latitude and isolation, which can be determined by a solar power installer.


The solar power panels must be pointed correctly to harness the power.

For an existing space, a professional can help determine at what angle the solar panels should be set up.


When designing a new build, these factors can best

capture what is required for establishing solar power.

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