In this economy age, the cost of living continues to go up. We do what we can to save a penny here and there. Cutting the cost of our utility bills would go a long way in reducing the cost of living. So, why not try solar panels? They are a wonderful alternative to electricity, and have many advantages worth noting

Solar power generation has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing renewable sources of electricity. Although there is variability in the amount and timing of sunlight over the day, season and year, a properly sized and configured system can be designed to be highly reliable while providing long-term, fixed price electricity supply.

Solar power generation has several advantages over other forms of electricity generation:

  • Save Money: Solar power saves you money. Despite the initial cost of installation, the rest is pretty much easy pickings from there, and putting those solar PV panels could be the best decision you ever made.
  • Maintenance Free: Solar energy systems are virtually maintenance free. Once the system is set up, it can last for years and there are no recurring costs. If needs increase, solar panels can be added with ease and no major revamp.
  • Reduced Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Solar energy production does not require fossil fuels and is therefore less dependent on this limited and expensive natural resource.
  • Environmental Advantages: Solar power production generates electricity with a limited impact on the environment as compared to other forms of electricity production.
  • Output with Peak Time Demand: Solar energy can effectively supplement electricity supply from an electricity transmission grid, such as when electricity demand peaks in the summer.
  • Modularity and Scalability: As the size and generating capacity of a solar system are a function of the number of solar modules installed, applications of solar technology are readily scalable and versatile.
  • Flexible Locations: Solar power production facilities can be installed at the customer site which reduces required investments in production and transportation infrastructure.
  • Government Incentives: A growing number of countries have established incentive programs for the development of solar and other renewable energy sources, such as (i) net metering laws that allow on-grid end users to sell electricity back to the grid at retail prices, (ii) direct subsidies to end users to offset costs of photovoltaic equipment and installation charges, (iii) low interest loans for financing solar power systems and tax incentives; and (iv) government standards that mandate minimum usage levels of renewable energy sources.

Despite the cost, an advantage of photovoltaic systems is that they can be used in remote areas. Anywhere a diesel generator is the technology of choice, many times a photovoltaic system is a much better life-cycle cost option.

Stand-alone photovoltaic systems produce power independently of the utility grid. In some off-the-grid locations even one half kilometer from power lines, stand-alone photovoltaic systems can be more cost-effective than extending power lines. They are especially appropriate for remote, environmentally sensitive areas, such as national parks, cabins, and remote homes.

The solar power market has grown significantly in the past decade in india. The National Solar Mission was launched on the 11th January, 2010 by the Prime Minister. The Mission has set the ambitious target of deploying 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022 is aimed at reducing the cost of solar power generation in the country through (i) long term policy; (ii) large scale deployment goals; (iii) aggressive R&D; and (iv) domestic production of critical raw materials, components and products, as a result to achieve grid tariff parity by 2022. Mission will create an enabling policy framework to achieve this objective and make India a global leader in solar energy. Further, Government has revised the target of Grid Connected Solar Power Projects from 20,000 MW by the year 2021-22 to 100,000 MW by the year 2021-22 under the National Solar Mission and it was approved by Cabinet on 17th June 2015. In the last year, 2016-17, the country’s solar energy capacity expanded by a record 5,525.98 MW. According to reports released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India had added 3,010 MW in the previous year, thus translating to an almost doubling of growth in the past year.

Principles of working

Sunlight is converted into electrical power via the photovoltaic effect by panel. The electrical power produced is direct current (DC) like a battery, which cannot be used by normal electrical equipment in a household straight away.

The current coming from the Solar Panels is converted into AC in order to make the energy compatible with standard electrical equipment by an inverter. The inverter deactivates at night and automatically starts operating in the morning when sunlight is sufficient. The inverter is the operations centre of your Solar Power System and as such, useful system information can be obtained from the inverter’s display.

For night time operations battery backup is used making the system self sufficient