Solar Technology-New Solar Panels

Solar Technology have designed a range of solar panels using the latest in cutting edge technology allowing you to capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electrical current to power a range of appliances

TRACKING THE SUN

Many different varieties of tracking solar panel mounts are available. One-axis trackers stay at the same vertical angle, but rotate around the post to follow the sun from sunrise to sunset. The vertical angle is set manually to match the angle of the sun for the current season–closer to flat for summertime, and at a steep angle for winter, with the exact angle dependant on your lattitude. The rule of thumb is to set the panels at your latitude minus 15 in summer, and latitude plus 15 in the winter. Dual axis trackers also adjust the vertical angle automatically.

Advantages of trackers:
Your solar array is almost always facing the sun at exactly the optimum angle, for best power output.
The closer you are to the equator, the more gains a tracker will give you.
For many water pumping applications trackers are recommended, especially if the system does not shut down when a water tank is full, etc. Can decrease payback time of a grid-tied system.

Disadvantages of trackers:
They are a mechanical device with moving parts that need regular maintenance and that can fail.
Trackers can be affected by high winds, causing them to point in the wrong direction on windy days.
They give you the most gain in power during summer, when you are less likely to need the extra.
MPPT controllers (above) give almost as much energy gain as trackers, but do it with no moving parts and at a MUCH lower cost.
High cost–the expense of installing a pole mount and of the tracker itself is prohibitive. You could buy 1-2 extra solar panels for the same cost as a tracker.

Our opinion:
Very few people in our community use trackers. We are located high in the moutains, and extremely high winds are commonplace. We often observe those few trackers that are installed around here pointing in exactly the wrong direction on windy days, making little or no power. And here at 40 deg N latitude, the summer gain from a tracker is not really needed–it’s winter when we need extra power, and trackers don’t help much because of the narrow arc of the sun during winter months. And now that most larger power systems up here have new MPPT controllers installed, the gains from a tracker are made even less.

Advances in solar photovoltaic panels are happening at a fast and furious rate. Plus, the newest panels should have an even longer life expectancy than the older models–older panels have started to turn brown in the clear substrate the solar cells are mounted in, reducing their power output. This problem has been solved by using new plastics in the manufacturing process. The biggest advances in new solar panel technology recently have been in power density–the newest panels are the same size as older models, but put out more power per square foot.

The Largest Solar Roof In The World

The solar roof at the Floriade Exhibition Hall in the Netherlands still holds the record as the largest of its kind in the world.

It acts as one gigantic solar panel, and generating 2.3 megawatts of power. The roof is comprised of a whopping 20,000 semi-transparent solar modules, and it has a surface area of 28,000 square meters i.e. almost 7 acres. The solar cells also provide a dappled shade beneath the canopy, which housed a huge exhibit of flowers and plants.

The Floriade exhibit is held only once every ten years, so the electricity is currently being sold to the grid. The yield of the solar roof is enough to supply 450 households with clean electricity of about 1.23 GWh per year. The solar roof is expected to have a 20-year lifespan, before it needs to be replaced.

Solar LED Lanterns-The New Dawn

Solar LED Light

We have ways to heat our water, our homes and provide us with electricity. We probably take all of this for granted and if we lost them we would probably panic. We take for granted that these conveniences will be there for us from now on. We expect glitches to happen but we want them to be fixable without going long without all of these. We appreciate the heat in the winter when it snows outside and when the temperatures drop. We need water to live and although it is usually running under the ground we want the convenience of it running through our pipes and into our homes.

Some people use some of the heat generated from the sun in order to heat homes, power electricity and provide water to their families and businesses. When you think about all that you have that runs through a machine it may be possible to reroute that in order to run it all by sunlight. Scientists have only started to make this possible but it is far from being completed. When you consider all the solar energy that reaches the earth’s surface and then radiated back into the atmosphere, you could power electricity, heat and water from now on. This solar energy can be redirected and concentrated using special boxes that attract the light during the day to heat water and homes throughout the night.

Solar energy would not be affected by the supply and demand of fuel for it is free and it doesn’t pollute the atmosphere. It is natural and pure. It would provide us with better health.

In the beginning you may pay a minimal amount to be solar power efficient by purchasing a solar source. You can buy indoor and outdoor lighting, solar power windows and insulated doors in order to make your home more solar efficient. After that initial expense you don’t have the expense of paying a monthly bill to keep your service on. This also promotes others to use solar power to be more efficient.

Solar panels importance

Solar panels can be different shapes and sizes but their main purpose is to convert the light in order to make electricity. Photovoltaic, or PV, is the process of converting the light into electricity. Photovoltaic cells are self generating and consist of a very thing film made of silver. This film is placed on a semiconductor layer that can be found on an iron substrate. The photovoltaic cells are very important in producing enough sunlight and heat in order to successfully produce the energy that is needed in order to heat up water, heat homes and power electricity.

Solar panels can be found in all different shapes and sizes including round, square, and rectangle. You can see them on top of buildings and houses or standing alone in fields. Solar panels are in hand held devices and they are in energy efficient appliances. The sun is a wonderful natural resource and can greatly cater to our way of life. The study of natural resources like the sun is ongoing and the improvement that can be made in the future is anyone’s guess but you can’t go wrong when you use natural resources.

Having a dependable light source that isn’t going to fail at a vital moment is essential, especially as inclement weather sets in this time of year. Winter emergencies can strike with little warning. It is therefore important that your home is prepared with the best lighting and survival tools possible. When it comes to a light source, it is important that it not only cast a strong light when you need it most but one that also has a variety of features to make sure that you’re never stranded in the dark during an emergency situation. Consider purchasing an LED emergency lantern which produces a strong white LED light at a fraction of the energy cost of traditional light bulbs.

What’s So Great about LED
An LED light like those available in emergency lanterns or flashlights are far superior to a standard incandescent flashlight. LED’s are not like traditional bulbs because they contain no glass casing or a filament. This means you don’t have to worry about the bulb breaking or the filament burning out at an inconvenient time. A white LED light will burn for years longer than a comparable white light bulb at a much lower energy cost. You may also find that manufactures will combine LED’s in a lantern or flashlight to produce a brighter light in the same amount of space as a standard bulb would be able to create. This is why you can find small LED flashlights that put out a great light than some larger traditional versions. Because multiple LED’s are used in these lights you are also generally able to use different light settings easily as well. The ability to dim an emergency lantern in the evening or at night at the push of a button is another great feature of a quality LED lantern.

Solar LED Light

Things to watch out for:
There are a few key features you should make sure to pay attention to when you are purchasing your LED emergency lantern. Look for a lantern that is convertible between a “lantern” mode and a “flashlight” mode. Also look for one that utilizes multiple LEDs. Depending on the size of the lantern, 8-12 bulbs are recommended. A hand crank to provide emergency power in case the batteries are low is a wonderful feature as is a rechargeable battery pack. As mentioned above, the ability to adjust the, light intensity either through different settings or a dimmer switch is a practical feature that can ensure that your lamp can be used for both emergency situations as well as general outdoor use.

Additional Stuff:
As always, there are some additional LED lantern options and features out there that may prove useful to you. Some come with built-in radio systems for listening to news or weather reports. Others have emergency road flare settings which blink orange or red lights should you keep the lantern in your outdoor survival kit or camping gear. As always, check out product reviews online and read about other users’ experience with lanterns with these features to see if they prove useful or not.
Regardless of the brand or style of LED emergency lantern you choose, it is important that your home have one in its emergency tool kit. The value of having a dependable light source in any emergency situation is immeasurable when it comes to the safety and comfort of your home and family.

Solar Assemble Your Own Solar Lantern!

Solar :Enlighting Villages