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Solar power definition

Photovoltaic solar energy is the conversion of sunlight into electricity through a solar system. This electricity can be consumed instantly in the same place where it occurred, may be stored in batteries for later use or for sale to the electric company, then a safe investment consitituyendo supported by the Spanish State.

Solar power advantages

In principle, the same advantages of solar energy in general: inexhaustible, clean, green, convenient, subsidized, quiet, free of charge once the initial investment for installation, promotes energy independence to other countries or against to large energy companies, help stop climate change ... . Only advantages for our pockets for our country, for the environment and for the globe as a whole.Solar energy without drawbacks.

As for the practical benefits of solar photovoltaic over other methods of producing electricity, we may note in particular that does not emit CO2, which is inexhaustible and that promotes the country's energy independence. Oil is finite and is necessary to import, depending on the will and prices imposed by countries that are often politically unstable nuclear power, but now safe, experts say, no longer depends on a fuel, uranium, which is also finite, and also generates a highly dangerous waste that lasts 5000 years ... No matter how secure it is their management ...Is it necessary to bequeath to future generations the need to control the waste generated before 4000 years?

It is true that its current production is still slightly more expensive than production using traditional fuels, but is expected parity, ie the equivalence of production costs, by 2012 for Spain, but now the subsidies are still needed to ensure profitability. From that point, photovoltaic begin its takeoff unstoppable as a producer of electricity in large quantities.

Solar power applications

The main uses of solar photovoltaic electricity production is for own consumption or for sale to the electric company.

Rural electrification, also called home, domestic or isolated

It is necessary to perform a calculation of consumption needed by the user, even accounting for each bulb and half hours that will be operational, since the apparatus used in the facility vary according to consumption defendant. The solar panels receive the radiation, which become continuous electricity that is consumed at the time or, more usually, in some batteries. Our appliances, however, alternating electricity consumed and for this reason it is necessary to have a device called an inverter, which is in charge of performing this conversion. Furthermore, it is necessary to have a solar control and some other complementary devices. She also keeps the diesel electric generator, which is responsible for charging the battery when we consume electricity. The whole process takes place automatically. We see that the solar system is far more complex than simply installing the plates .

The electrification solar power systems are also extremely useful for agricultural use: Many ranchers or farmers need electricity for their facilities, and generally use an electrical generator powered by diesel. But diesel is expensive, plus the annoying noise it makes. Therefore, a solar power system is suitable to meet this need electricity.

Sale of solar power

Photovoltaics can be considered a way to invest safely and profitably, as guaranteed by the Spanish. You can get a small or a large installation with a power similar to that of large power plants, depending on the capital we have available to invest. Any individual can take the roof of his family house to produce electricity, although the law prohibits using a portion of that electricity and sell the rest, well that would not be profitable. It is not necessary to have knowledge of your industry to make this investment. Soliclima can help you make the whole process.

If you want to have a benefit of solar PV is not necessary to invest for an income. The photovoltaic system on industrial buildings allows owners to rent their ships deck, with revenues that otherwise would not.

Other applications

There are also other uses of solar photovoltaic system is the production of electricity used, for example, artificial satellites. There are growing photovoltaic appliances minipaneles: battery chargers, mobile chargers, jackets, and even a automótil model that is already on the market, the Toyota Prius, already has this resource.

Can also be expected that not very long term, implementation beginning photovoltaic materials, photovoltaic panels that, in all kinds of objects. Organic Photovoltaic cells can be printed on flexible substrates such as cloth or plastic, and while they last and produce less than silicon cells, solar photovoltaics can begin to penetrate markets until recently unexpected for her, as for example in the world fashion or in construction, coating the walls completely.

How solar power works

A Solar power system consists of a generator group, formed by photovoltaic solar panels, a charge regulator, an accumulating group and an inverter.

During the hours of sunlight, the photovoltaic panels produce electricity in the form of DC that is stored in the collectors. During moments of power consumption, the collectors supply this electricity to the receivers. That is transformed into AC by the inverter.

Solar power is based on the photoelectric effect to convert directly the energy of the solar rays into electricity. To obtain an electric current a difference of electric power has to be created. Conductive materials should be used as their electrons have a higher activity and easily allow the creation of electric flow.

For the photovoltaic cell to generate electricity, we should create a difference between the positive and the negative charge, adding to a pure semiconductor, small amounts of contaminant atoms, capable of yielding or accepting electrons.

By means of charges we generate a current that exposes the photovoltaic cell to the sunlight radiation and absorve the energy of the photons. The photon yields its energy to an electron of the valence band and transfers it to the conducting band. Thus, it leads to the absense of electrons, that create charges that establish an electric current. We will obtain a difference of potential conecting 2 semiconductors that contain different densities of positive or negative chargers. This generates an electric field.

The usual material for the manufacture of photovoltaic cells is silicon, one of the most abundant materials on our planet , since it´s found, for example, in sand.

Solar power maintenance

It required minimal maintenance of photovoltaic modules to ensure that the installation works properly and paid the most. If you have not maintenance Soliclima puts its experience at your service. Contact us.

Legislation, prices and subsidies

The current Spanish legislation regarding photovoltaic solar energy is based on the RD 1578/2008.

This overrides the previous legislation on photovoltaic-premium subsidies offered in highly technical language than today. In fact, for years were the highest in the world, which boosted that Spain should become a global power in photovoltaics.

The current premium-subsidies-are variable, and depends on the amount of photovoltaic made in previous periods, but it is hoped that, given the importance it has acquired the solar sector in Spain and emplo generator, and the need of promoting renewable energy to curb climate change legislation is renewed at future dates to promote the Spanish PV industry.

Types of Photovoltaic Solar Panels

-There are various types of photovoltaic solar panels;

-Single-crystalline: manufactured with ingots of pure silicon. They offer a maximum performance.

-Multi-crystalline: made from the recasting of silicon pieces. They are much less expensive than monocrystalline and offer an optimal performance.

-Amorpheus: manufactured depositing thin layers of glass. The performance is lower than that of crystalline silicon. It is used for small power applications.

Solar power in the world

Renewables in general and photovoltaics in particular, are undergoing a true revolution in recent years, which is being promoted sharply changing energy model for several reasons:
 

• need to tackle climate change
• search for alternative energy sources to fossil fuels
• need for energy independence, which is evident when fossil fuel producing countries to press their advantage to those who do not have this energy resource.

The countries leading global PV are Germany and Spain by far, but increasingly countries such as France, Greece, Italy, USA and others are rushing to subsidize solar photovoltaics.

Spain, photovoltaic power

Globally, Spain, last year became the first global photovoltaic power, ousting Germany for the first time but proved ephemeral growth due to the rush to exploit the old law, which offered higher subsidies.

Still, Spain is also a leader in solar thermal energy, thanks to its privileged geographical location, so it is assumed that, despite the slowdown, will not take long to regain positions and revert to the global photovoltaic power.

Europe

A general problem in photovoltaics that must be resolved is the existing bureaucracy in carrying out the installations.

 

History of solar power

The existence of the photovoltaic effect was shown by physicist Becquerel in 1839. By 1870, professor W. Grylls Adams experimented on the effect of light on selenium, veryfying that a flow of electricity was created, that was called "photoelectric".

By 1885, Charles Fritts built the first photoelectric module, showing evidence of the direct conversion of sunlight energy into electric energy. In 1921 Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize for explanatory theories on photovoltaic effect. In 1953, executives from Bell presented the so-called Solar Battery Bell, showing a panel of photovoltaic cells that powered a miniature Ferris wheel.

Within a few years, selenium was replaced by silicon as the basic material for the cells.

The first commercial uses were to provide electricity to remote sites, that were away from the electric grid. Photovoltaic cells took their first major field of application in Space and they traveled into Space in the late 60´s, powering a satellite. They realized that solar cells could be applied in other fields. Camouflaged detectors were installed on the Ho Chi Min route, powered by photovoltaic solar cells.

In 1973, researchers from Solar Power Corporation began to look for ways of reducing the manufacturing cost of cells, by using the semiconductors industry´s silicon refusal. "Solar One", was built, the first house where photovoltaic panels intalled on the rooftop had a dual purpose: to produce electric energy and act as a solar energy collector, heating the air underneath the panels to transfer it to a heat interchanger.

The first places where photovoltaic facilities were installed, were in remote sites, isolated from the electric grid,, like in 1978, when a photovoltaic system of 3.5-kWp was installed in an indian reservation, used to pump water and supply it to 15 homes.

Later on, all kinds of installations were made, such as maritime and railway signaling and communications antennas. In 1983, global production of photovoltaic energy surpassed 21.3 mw, and the sales grew significantly. In the 90, all kinds of tests we re done like the construction of Icarus, an airplane fed by 3000 photovoltaic cells that flies over Germany. In the 90´s, all kinds of projects were undertaken, like the construction of Icarus, an airplane powered by 3000 photovoltaic cells that flies over Germany.

En 1973 investigadores de Solar Power Corporation comenzaron a investigar para reducir el coste de fabricación de las células, y utilizaron silicio de rechazo, de la industria de los semiconductores. Se construye "Solar One", la primera casa donde las placas fotovoltaicas instaladas en el techo tienen doble efecto: conseguir energía eléctrica y actuar de colector solar calentado el aire bajo ellas para llevarlo a un intercambiador de calor.

Future of solar power

Solar energy development is in full swing, and with exceptional expectations, as the research being conducted is providing new technologies in this field.

New spherical 1 mm in diameter photovoltaic cells have been developed, that could help expand this techonology. New technologies have been developed with silicon: silicon in flexible bands and silicon film.

The search of other material like tellurium cadmium cells and selenide cells of copper and indium, has become a viable option. This would cut down the installation costs dramatically. Even transparent photovoltaic cells have been developed, creating the possibility of incorporating them in large windows and becoming generators of electricity. Thus, they would reduce the visual impact, the same way as solar roofing tiles, that would have the dual function of covering the house and generating energy.

According to the forecasts, by 2016, inmense solar gardens will have been built in the worlds largest deserts. 10% of the world´s energy demands will be covered through solar energy. The development of pohotovoltaic solar energy has to face economic chal lenges, that limit its progress. In Spain, the situation is very positive, since it possesses solar resources, very favorable for its development. There is technology and manufacturing capacity at the national level, and government support for solar projects with major grants, giving big returns over the medium term. In Spain, according to the plan of renewable energies , by 2010, a total of 363 MW of installed photovoltaic power is projected. At the international level, there are various programs such as the one promoted by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, which wants to have an installed capacity of 5,000 MWp by 2020. Closer, the photovoltaic program of the European Union aims to reach 3,000 MWp by 2010.

One of the benefits that solar power will generate, will be to eliminate the dependency on polluting and destructive energies such as nuclear energy. To all this we must add the great potential to generate employment.