Tuesday, March 22, 2011

The Perfect Places for Solar Panels

By Caitlyn Summers


What geographic locations in the world are ideal for generating solar energy? First you need to think about how the panels will be positioned in relation to the direct sunlight. The most favorable situation is when the panels are at the perfect angle of 90 degrees as this will maximize the amount of energy produced.

Another important thing to consider is the angle of the solar panel in relation to the sky, or tilting. For example, if the tilt is on a flat roof, it would be zero degrees, whereas if it were facing a wall, it would then be 90 degrees. The best angle would be approximately 30 degrees but anywhere between 20 to 40 degrees is still efficient. Getting the angle right is very important because the more direct sunlight the panel can collect, the more electricity it can generate. Also if the panel is vertical or nearly so, it will create problems.

Solar power works very well for large electrical equipment such as electric stove or tumble dryer, however to make it more cost effective, it is better to convert to natural gas or propane. You can then operate a gas stove as the electrical requirement would be minimal.

Keep in mind that solar panels generate electricity, not heat. There is a difference. In order to generate hot air or liquid, you'll need to install thermal principles. PV panel is a natural element, made of silicon which gets charged by direct sun light and produces electricity.

These panels are directed in the northern and southern hemisphere at an angle stated by latitude of where they should be installed. Depending on the summer or winter months, the angle is typically set within 15 degrees. Oftentimes the arrays are placed at an angle that matches the location's latitude for the different times of year. You can learn more about the positioning of solar panel arrays by viewing some of the diagrams available online.

The PV panel is consolidated by the electrical charge which is directed to the output terminals to generate low voltage of around 6 to 20 volts. Although terminals can acomodate up to 20 volts, it's much more common to find them set up for 12 volts. So it is clear that there is a difference between the voltage and the actual functioning voltage. You can calculate the average daily peak sun hours, based on a full year, with the help of the internet.

For example, you can go online to find the average peak sunlight hours for your region of the United States. Select the area closest to you and plug that information into the solar energy calculator that you can find at many websites.

In conclusion, the ideal geographic locations for solar panels vary, depending on your location. People in the north of US would need more panels in their system to generate the same power as those in the South due to the lack of sun light and their positioning. A larger system will cost more to buy and install. So do your homework before making a decision about whether to go solar.




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