Solar Power: 4 Steps to Harnessing the Power of the Sun
By Guest Contributor Barry Snyder
Superman
is powered by the sun and, for most people, solar power remains an elusive
fantasy – something relegated to comic book superheroes. And, while solar power
isn’t taking over the coal and oil plants, there are some specific uses
for solar panels that make sense.
Up until now, most consumers
haven’t bothered with the technology because it provides only intermittent
power, and it’s expensive to set up. But, if you live in a really sunny area,
it might make sense to set up your own mini power plant. Here’s how.
Do Your Research
Even
when you’ve figured out whether you live in a sunny area, you’re not done with
the research. You’ll need to look into costs for both the equipment and the
installation. In some areas, feed-in-tariffs will speed up the payback period
for you because excess energy can be sold back to the power company or used to
offset the need to buy electricity from your utility company.
These
systems tie directly into the energy grid, and do not rely on battery banks. As
such, they are not ideal for off-grid power generation, but they are good for
supplemental energy purposes.
Get
quotes from at least three different installers so that you have an idea about
how much the market rates are for the setup you want. You’ll also need to
figure out whether you want a system that will partially or fully offset your
electricity use. A system that is designed as a replacement for utilities will
generally cost more, because you’ll need more panels and a more robust system
capable of powering your entire home.
Select a Good Area For Positioning
Before
you buy anything, figure out where you will put them, and if your property is
conducive to panels. Just because you live in a sunny geographical area doesn’t
mean your property is conducive to generating solar energy. The best position
for fixed panels will be north-facing. That’s because Australia is in the
southern hemisphere, and you want the solar panels to be facing the sun as much
as possible.
If
you have panels that can move with the sun, then the position will be within a
specific range as opposed to a set, fixed, position.
Choose a Good System
Certain
energy related companies make commercial-grade solar energy equipment. In
general, these types of companies will produce a high-quality product compared
to consumer-grade companies.
They also tend to cost more for the initial
installation. However, that upfront cost is usually worth it if you plan on
keeping your system for life.
Maintain Your System
Like
any piece of technology, there are maintenance costs. The panels need to be
cleaned from time to time, and possums and birds can damage the components,
decreasing the efficacy or efficiency of the system, so that’s something to
consider.
Repair costs can be expensive too, if something does break. Ask
installers and manufacturers about costs for replacement parts and tech
service, as this will be part of the long-term costs of your system.
Barry Snyder is an energy researcher. When not putting hypotheses
to the test, he greatly enjoys writing about the emerging research in the
field. Visit the Infinite Energy website
for more solar power ideas and information.