Solar photovoltaic are made of silicon. That is a great benefit to us since silicon is relatively a common element in nature. 15% of the Earth’s mass which is approximately 5.98×1021 metric tons is made out of silicon. There is no need to worry about running out of this naturally common element on Earth.
Silicon Cost for Solar Photovoltaic Panels:
The use of silicon in photovoltaic started in 1954, however; it was not worth it to be produced commercially at that time. The cost of the electricity they produced was relatively very high compared to coal; silicon cost was $250 per 1 Watt compared to $3 per watt for coal. Improvements were slow over the years. Benefit from solar photovoltaic panels was not put to use during that period except for satellite uses.
However, with the technological advancements these days and increased silicon demand for the electronic industry, the price of silicon dropped down considerably and an installed cost of a solar photovoltaic panel could be lower than $4 per watt.
With cost price of solar photovoltaic panels dropping down, solar panel cells became affordable and that benefited most people who were unable to afford it in the past. The price of solar panels is expected to drop down further in the next 2-5 years as the world is turning to alternative renewable solar energy sources and green sustainable energy.
Lifetime Expectancy of solar Photovoltaic Panel:
The solar photovoltaic panels are durable and built to last. It is beneficial to us since the expected lifetime of a solar photovoltaic panel is 20 + years. Usually a performance warranty of 20 + years is provided by most manufacturers and a warranty of 10 + years for 80% power output performance. The solar photovoltaic panel has no moving parts or mechanical parts; therefore, maintenance is not required except for surface cleaning once in a long while.
Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation and Energy Saving:
Solar photovoltaic panels are designed to generate electricity during the day time. If you were to install a solar photovoltaic system, on sunny days you should be able to use the solar energy from sunlight during the day and have sufficient energy stored in your battery for night time. But that depends on the type of system installed.
On average, energy saved due to using solar photovoltaic panels in North America or Europe could save somewhere between 25 – 150% per household per day. The access power is fed to the utility grid-lines in North America and some European countries. This is a great encouragement for the use of alternative solar energy.
Furthermore, many countries don’t require planning permission if an owner decides to install solar photovoltaic panels to power his electrical equipments. There are a few exceptions, however; nowadays many countries are encouraging household owners to make the switch and benefit from the easy long term payment plans governments offer.
Solar photovoltaic panel power and other alternative green energy sources are offered with extremely low interest rates just to push the green energy issue forward.
Solar Photovoltaic and Carbon Footprint:
Solar photovoltaic panels are considered part of the green energy resources that is naturally available and replenishable. On average, a single household owner can reduce his carbon footprint by approximately 1.4 metric tons per year if a solar photovoltaic panel system is installed on his property.
Considering the reduced amount of carbon footprint, this makes the solar photovoltaic system an environmentally friendly solution that does not destroy our environment and protects our Eco system.
Solar Photovoltaic Panel Payback Period:
Free energy from the sun provides us with unlimited amount of solar energy that is renewable. On average, the payback period for solar photovoltaic system is usually 7-10 years. Then it is profit to its owner. The output power produced is identical and even better than power utility from the grid.
Better output power from solar photovoltaic panels is due to the use of pure sine wave inverters and shorter transmission lines. This protects connected electrical equipments from voltage fluctuation, disturbances, and power surges and enhances the lifetime of our appliances.
On-Grid, Off-Grid Solar Photovoltaic Panels:
The solar photovoltaic panel system can be installed independent of the utility grid or can be integrated to feed the grid. When affordable, many household owners prefer to be independent from the utility grid and only use the utility power in case of shortages or during emergencies.
The solar photovoltaic panel system can be installed independent of the utility grid or can be integrated to feed the grid. When affordable, many household owners prefer to be independent from the utility grid and only use the utility power in case of shortages or during emergencies.
In either case electrical appliances are protected due to a better power output. In either case the power has to pass through the pure sine wave inverter provided that the grid connection is set that way.
The benefit for those who are living off the utility grid is that they will always have electric power in case of blackout or brownouts compared to their counter parts. In case of a blackout or brownout the user will never notice the difference. The switching time can only be measured by delicate devices.
A good online pure sine wave inverter drawing power from solar photovoltaic panels should have a switching time less than 4 microseconds. This would insure that PC computers are not affected by power fluctuating.
Portable Solar Photovoltaic Panels:
The solar photovoltaic power system is portable for those who are living in portable cabins or renting properties. The solar photovoltaic system is usually installed on the roof top of a portable cabin. The owner can take his cabin anywhere he goes and power would always be available.
Those who are renting can dismantle the solar photovoltaic system to the newly rented dwelling if circumstances necessitate such a move. Portable solar photovoltaic system owners have a peace of mind from the benefits the solar photovoltaic system provides. They never have to worry about electric power shortage.
