Going Solar: Everything You Need to Know

A lot of focus has been put on the increasing effects of climate change over the years. As more and more industries continue to use non-renewable energy, the threat of irreparable environmental harm grows by the day. Naturally, people who want to make a change are looking towards greener alternatives to power our world.

One of the many options for green energy is readily and abundantly available to us. The sun is consistently providing energy that we can harness to power our cities and homes. The most common application is using it to provide light to illuminate our world during the evening. But how does it actually work? Today, we’ll be finding out just that.

What is Solar Energy?

Solar energy is the radiant energy emitted by the sun. Solar power is what’s produced when we harness and convert that into energy that we can use for a variety of things such as providing light, generating electricity, thermal applications like heating water, and so much more.

Solar energy is virtually infinitely abundant and can be used to power domestic, commercial, or even industrial infrastructure.

How does Solar Power work?

The inside of the Sun acts similarly to a nuclear reactor and it releases energy in the form of photons. These photons travel 93 million miles in just over 8 minutes to reach the Earth. In the span of an hour, all of those photons produce enough solar energy to, in theory, satisfy a year’s worth of the world’s energy needs.

Once those photons reach the earth, an array of solar panels that contain solar cells catch those photons and separate the electrons from their atoms. The cells have electrical conductors attached to them that form an electrical circuit. When those electrons flow through that circuit, electricity is then generated, completing the process of converting solar energy.

Naturally, the larger your solar panels, the more power you can produce, and the less dependent you need to be on less renewable forms of energy.

What equipment do you need to start harnessing Solar Energy?

There’s a lot that goes into starting your solar setup. This is true for those who want to do it for their homes, their buildings, or even their cities. We’ll tackle the equipment necessary to get things started and take a more in-depth look at some of them.

Solar Panels

Solar Panels are one of the main features of a solar power setup. They contain semiconductors called solar photovoltaic (PV) cells that are made of silicon. The solar panels are constructed with a positive and a negative layer that creates an electric field, essentially functioning as a battery.

How do Solar Panels generate electricity?

Due to the nature of the PV cells, solar panels actually generate a direct current (DC) as opposed to the more efficient and widespread alternating current (AC). AC is the most commonly used type of current for countrywide electrical grids as it’s less costly to transmit the energy across long distances. However, solar panels work around that by using a specialized solar inverter.

Solar Inverter

A solar inverter does as its name suggests and inverts the type of electrical current that goes through it. Converting the current from DC to AC allows it to be more efficient. There are several different types of solar inverters.

1. String Inverter – the least expensive option for an inverter. It is also sometimes referred to as a centralized inverter. It uses a single inverter to connect your solar array to your electrical panel.
2. Micro-Inverter – this type of inverter works by having one micro-inverter attached to one solar panel. That way, each solar panel’s current is converted independently and will function to its optimal output even when other panels are encumbered (i.e. not getting enough sunlight at a certain time). This is ideal for places that are heavily reliant on electricity on an hourly basis.
3. Power Optimizers – a healthy hybrid and compromise of both string and micro-inverters.

Types of Solar Cells/Panels

Solar panels and the solar cells that form them come in different types and all vary in cost and efficiency. Knowing the differences between them is essential to determining the best fit for the application.

1. Polycrystalline Solar Cells – these are the first PV cells to hit the market in the 1980s and are made from a silicone cube cut into smaller, wafer-like squares. They form the more traditional image of a solar panel which has several of these cells arranged in a larger, blue panel. Their efficiency rating ranges from 8-16% and the cells are generally less costly to make due to a less wasteful refinement process than, say, monocrystalline cells.

However, due to their lower efficiency rating, more of these cells are required per panel, thereby requiring more space. They also have a shorter lifespan, which may offset the inexpensive upfront costs by a significant amount depending on the situation.

2. Monocrystalline Solar Cells – the refinement process for these cells filter out all but the best silicone which comes out to a more cylindrical shape. The wafers that are cut from the cylinders then appear as round and black, as opposed to square and blue like the previous polycrystalline wafers.

Because of the stricter refinement process, these cells yield a higher efficiency rating of 15-21% which means it requires fewer cells and a smaller to generate power. They also perform better than polycrystalline cells in low-light situations. They do come at a higher cost, which should be considered when comparing mono and polycrystalline setups.

3. Amorphous Solar Panels – you’ve probably encountered an amorphous solar panel without realizing it. These small panels can sometimes be found in portable solar-powered calculators! These are made with layers of very thin films of silicon. While their efficiency rating is nothing to write home about (>10%), the amount of silicone used is incredibly small compared to the previous two setups. They are also very flexible which could benefit certain setups. Despite currently not being able to hold up in a more heavy-duty environment, amorphous solar panels have plenty of potential and may be used more in the future.
4. Thin Film Solar Cells – similar yet not entirely identical to amorphous cells, these are formed with a very thin layer of material placed on a substrate. They are easy to make and use less silicone per cell which makes them some of the cheapest to manufacture. Their efficiency rating comes out to about 10-16% which means they require a larger amount of space. They see more action in commercial districts than residential ones due to this fact, however, advancements in technology could soon see this type of solar cell be fine-tuned for use in smaller areas.

5. Bifacial Solar Technology – traditionally, solar panels harness energy from only one side of the structure. But recent developments in the technology have allowed some setups to use both sides of their structure to do just that, effectively cutting the space needed in half. Some manufacturers testing bifacial solar technology have claimed that this can result in an increase of up to 30% in efficiency rating. Most bifacial panels use monocrystalline solar cells, but some have used polycrystalline ones as well.

What type of Solar Panel is the most efficient?

By what we’ve learned about the types of solar cells and panels, residential setups would benefit more from monocrystalline cells due to the smaller space required to generate power and due to their performance in low-light conditions. However, the cost must also be considered since monocrystalline costs more than other cells. Depending on your energy needs, polycrystalline cells may be more ideal if the cost of monocrystalline cells offset the benefits.

Thin-film solar panels are ideal for commercial and industrial applications despite being less efficient due to these environments having more space and the panels being relatively inexpensive.
Solar Batteries

Since solar power relies on the light from the sun for energy, once the sun goes down at dusk, you’re going to be left without any power, right? Well, that’s where solar batteries come in. These energy storage devices allow you to keep and use energy harnessed from the sun even when there’s no direct sunlight. Like solar panels, solar batteries come in different varieties which we will look into.

Solar Battery Basics

As previously mentioned, solar batteries function much like any other batteries that you would find cellphones, power banks, laptops, and other electronic devices. Instead of electrical charge from a plug, however, solar batteries store surplus energy gained from solar panels, allowing you to use that energy at night or in severe low-light conditions.

Most solar batteries can last anywhere between 5 to 15 years, depending on a lot of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to:

1. Usage – a battery’s life span is directly related to its usage cycle. The usage cycle pertains to how many times a battery can go through a full charge and discharge cycle. Making sure that batteries don’t overcharge is also key to keeping the battery as efficient as it can be for as long as possible.
2. Environment- the environment can also have a big effect on how long a battery will last. Places that get very mild weather conditions can allow for batteries to be safely installed outdoors. However, places that experience more extreme weather are not ideal for outdoor installations. Consider keeping the batteries inside a storage space that can also maintain a certain temperature.
3. Maintenance – batteries still require some care, as do most things. Make sure to follow any maintenance instructions and look into repair warranties offered with the batteries to avoid any costly replacements down the line before the battery has given all it’s got.
4. Type – some batteries are made to last longer than others but usually with a caveat. We’ll take a look at those types of batteries to get a better look at what you need to consider before deciding on the type of batteries to use.

Types of Solar Batteries

There are several types of batteries available on the market, but we’ll cover the two most common ones and an additional one that is a relatively new addition to the viable options.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

This the same type of battery that’s used to power your smartphones and laptops, making it the most common and well-known type of battery that can be used to store solar power. They can come in sub-types such as Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) and Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP). The latter is considered safer as it is less likely to overheat and cause any thermal damage.

Lithium-Ion batteries are good for several thousands of usage cycles and will easily last you around 10 years or more in optimal conditions. They are also more robust, compact and resilient, making them easier to install without taking up too much space and can withstand harsher environments better than other types of batteries.

However, Lithium-Ion batteries also contain more toxic chemicals, and while it’s possible to recycle them, the process to do so is slightly more complicated. You will have to get in touch with professionals at a recycling center to determine the best way to recycle the battery after its service is complete.
Lead-Acid or Lead-Carbon Batteries

These types of batteries are similar to the batteries found in most cars today. It’s been around for longer, and it’s been known to be more reliable and more easily understood. Unlike the Lithium-Ion batteries, Lead-Acid and Lead-Carbon batteries are sensitive to the environment and are rather bulky which means a dedicated storage space needs to be set for it to avoid any damage.

These types of batteries, however, are quite inexpensive compared to the previous Lithium-Ion ones and can be easily recycled as it does not contain any toxic waste.

Flow Batteries

These have only recently come up as a viable option in solar energy storage. Flow batteries use electrolytes that flow through a cell that can convert the chemical energy into electrical energy that can be used to power your solar setup.

Flow batteries can perform well in high ambient temperatures, don’t lose their capacity as time goes on, can be safely fully discharged, and are very easy to recycle, making flow batteries very advantageous.

However, they can be very expensive and may require a lot of maintenance, so the cost is an important factor to consider.

There are many other types of lesser-used batteries that are not as viable as the aforementioned ones. With enough time and development, they may be used more prominently in the future. These include Aquion Hybrid Ion Batteries, Molten Salt Batteries, Supercapacitor Batteries, Nickel Cadmium Batteries, and Nickel Iron Batteries.
Why go Solar?

Now that we’ve looked at how solar power is harnessed and what equipment is required to run a solar power system, it may seem like a lot of work to change the setup we currently have for something new. There are financial and labor costs that go into switching to solar energy.

But looking at the state of the world as it currently is, the environmental impact of using non-renewable energy is starting to take a toll on the planet. Fossil fuels, no matter how many you may think are still left untapped, will not last forever. Despite it being reliable and powerful as an energy source, it also takes millions and millions of years to make the fossil fuels we use to power our world.

The Sun is constantly bombarding our planet with more energy than we could ever need and our technology today is able to harness some of that energy and use it to fuel our homes and cities. It’s virtually infinitely renewable, and the net impact of producing materials for solar energy setups is vastly minute when compared to using other forms of energy generation.

There’s no better reason to go solar than lessening our negative impact on the environment and using greener alternatives to make sure that the Earth survives long enough to outlast the usage of non-renewable energy sources.

Just like we start our mornings with the sun rising optimistically on a new day, positive change starts with solar power.

Go solar today! Get in touch with the experts on solar lighting technology at Quicklight Solar and Lighting Solutions to find out how to create a brighter community!