Calculating your homes solar power needs would include the following: determining your home's average power consumption and sizing the solar panels that would meet these needs. Let's take a look at the calculations below.

Calculating Your Home's Average Energy Consumption

It's estimated that an average US home consumes around 10,000 kWh of energy yearly, but every home is different. So, let's calculate your home's yearly energy consumption.

To calculate this value, you will need to put together your power bills for the last 12 months. Look for the monthly kWh values on each bill and write each of these values down on a sheet of paper. Now add these 12 numbers together to get your total yearly energy consumption value.

For the sake of simpler calculations, let's assume that your total annual use of electric is 12,000 kWh (with the average monthly consumption being around 1,000 kWh).

Calculating Your Solar Power Needs

Now that you know your total annual electric needs, you need to match them with a solar panel of an appropriate size. Note that solar panels have a peak rated output and an average rated output, and you will need to find out your panel's average yearly output.

To make it simple: a 10 kW solar array will have a 12,000 kW/h estimated yearly output; if this panel is installed in a place like Philadelphia (this area has an average of 7 daily hours of sunshine).

So, a 10 kW panel can run a home that uses 12,000 kWh of electric annually in the Philadelphia area. What would the dimensions of a 10 kW system be? Its total area would be around 700-1,000 Sq ft. The array could consist of 48 smaller solar panels by 210 watts each.

Two important notes:

1. Estimated output of a panel largely varies depending on the geographical location of the home, as well as on the orientation of the installed panels.

2. Solar panel retailers often estimate the average output of a panel for the sunniest areas in the world, such as the Mojave Desert in California. They may estimate a10 kW panel output to be as much as 30,000 kW/h annually, which exceeds the normal value by 3 times (the 30,000 kW/h value would be correct for those who live in the Mojave Desert, and incorrect for those who live in a moderate climate area like Philadelphia).

Financial Aspects – Costs and Savings

How much money could a 10 kW panel save you annually, in terms of electric? An average standard grid electric rate in the US is $0.12/kWh. If we multiply 12,000 kWh by $0.12, we will get a total of $1,440 annually.

A commercial system of this size could cost around $30,000 (after all the rebates and tax credits, such as the 30% US Tax Credit). The system would pay for itself in around 20 years, and then start generating free electric. Building this system on your own could save you many thousands of dollars, allowing your system to pay for itself much-much faster.

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.solarpanelmanual.com which focuses on solar energy. Please visit his web site to learn more about calculating your solar panel power consumption.

If you are just coming in to learning about solar panel technology then you might not realize what all the fuss about different solar panel technologies is. Honestly, when it comes to advancing solar power as viable and popular renewable energy sources then technology is focusing on one thing: how can we make solar energy more economically available to consumers?

Current technologies focus on two different things to achieve this goal: the first are the materials used to make solar products, the second is increasing energy efficiency in different materials in order to get a better energy output with less materials.

The typical material used in solar panels has been crystalline silicon cut into discs and polished. This method can be costly because the materials used require a lot of manufacturing equipment to procure and extract the necessary amounts. There have been two changes recently involving silicon and solar panels.

The first difference is using multicrystalline silicon as opposed to crystalline silicon. Multicrystalline silicone can be produced in a number of different ways, one of them being by pouring molten into a cast, from there a number of techniques can be used to get a single-crystal silicon material or use fewer resources to get a lower grade but still useful silicon.

When it comes to using silicon for solar energy there also is a new solar panel technology that uses amorphous silicon. Amorphous solids are materials that have atoms that are not in any particular order. They are not formed in crystalline structures, and have structure and bonding issues, but economically they are less expensive.

The advantage of amorphous silicon is that it absorbs solar energy much more efficiently than single crystalline silicon. This means that a micrometer thick layer of amorphous silicon is needed instead of the about centimeter thick single crystalline silicon. This also means that the amorphous silicon can be distributed on a larger range of products and is more flexible than single crystal silicon.

Another arpanelmanual.com which focuses on solar energy. Please visit his web site to learn more about solar panel technology that is making headlines these days is polymer solar panels. Polymers are inexpensive plastics used in the construction of a number of different items today. These are very cheap materials to produce and use. Like amorphous silicon, solar products made with polymer solar cells are very flexible and very thin. The technology used in creating products with polymer solar cells use very similar technology to that used in photographic films.

This means you have a low materials and low production cost as the solar panel technology requires less in manufacture costs. The unfortunate aspect is that polymer solar cells are not as efficient as the more commonly used silicon cells. The technology is advancing in this field to make polymer cells viable, and it is expected within three years to have a comparable production of energy.

With more interest in green products, and renewable energy sources, the technologies used in extracting and constructing solar panels will continue to evolve. With reductions in cost, interest in these products is sure to increase.

Jakob Jelling runs http://www.solarpanelmanual.com which focuses on solar energy. Please visit his web site to learn more about solar panel technology.

Solar cells convert the suns energy using something called the photovoltaic effect. This is why many solar panels that are constructed go by the name photovoltaic solar panel. The photovoltaic effect involves creating an electric current (or voltage) in a material because of exposure to electro-magnetic radiation.

What builds up voltage between two electrodes is the generated electrons being transferred from one material to another. In most cases the radiation is sunlight and used in solar panels. At times you would use solar panel to specify that the energy source is the sun, and photovoltaic solar panel may indicate that a light source isnt specifically the sun and not indicated.

There are a variety of different materials that use solar radiation and convert it into direct current electricity. These materials currently include polycrystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium sulfide, and amorphous silicon. The recent increase in interest in solar energy and photovoltaic arrays has advanced the technology greatly used in the renewable energy conversion business.

In the United States in 2006 investors offered free solar panel installation in return for a contract of twenty-five years. It is expected that most commercial photovoltaics installed are with a power purchase agreement. Many other cities are offering incentives to invest in photovoltaic solar panels, if you are interested in converting your home to solar energy, then you would do best to contact your local municipality and ensure you are taking advantage of any financial offsets you can. Most municipalities are allowing you the option to buy back excess energy produced by your system, this way, not only do you not have to pay your energy company, but they pay you!

At this time building integrated photovoltaics are being included in the construction of new homes and businesses, either as the primary electrical power source or ancillary. Generally you will find a photovoltaic solar panel incorporated into either the roof or the walls of a building, although it is now becoming popular to purchase and install photovoltaic roof shingles.

If a building is already built, a photovoltaic solar panel may be retrofitted to fit within the roof or walls of the building. If this isnt possible or practical, then an array can be placed outside of the house and connected to a main power supply.

When choosing to be on the grid or completely off the power grid, you will want to take a look at how close your home is to it. If you are in a remote location, having a solar power supply complete off the grid is practical, if you are closer, putting it on the grid makes best use of the system, and you are protected in case of failure.

In any case, deciding to go greener and install a renewable solar energy source for your home is a smart move. You can eventually recoup the layout costs through your energy savings, and your home becomes more attractive to future buyers.

Jakob Jelling runs http://www.solarpanelmanual.com which focuses on solar energy. Please visit his web site to learn more about photovoltaic solar panels.

If you are going to install your own solar panel system as a renewable energy resource for your home, then you want to put in some considerable time on the solar panel design. A well designed solar panel system will save you time in your original installation, along with saving time, good design will save you money in the long run.

The key to good solar panel design is to know just how much power you need for your solar panel system. You can assess your current energy consumption based on what you currently pay your electrical company, or you can find many calculators on the internet that will provide you estimates based on the type of appliances you use.

If you calculate an amount that seems unreasonable to maintain with a solar panel system, then you can make many changes to lower your energy consumption. Changes that you might want to make include: using low wattage light bulbs, rethink your options for heating, and review all the appliances like fridges and stoves that you use consistently. If you are not using appliances, or use them very infrequently, consider getting rid of them completely and save yourself the trouble.

After you have determined how much energy you consume in a day, you want to calculate how big of a solar panel array you will need in your solar panel design. Again there are a number of online calculators available to assist you and you want to have as many solar panels as needed to get to that total number of power consumption daily. If you do not find an online calculator, you can consult with a solar energy professional, or review the packaging on the solar panels you intend to purchase, they will indicate how much energy they output.

The next consideration in your solar panel design is the battery. Prior to determining the system battery, you need to find how much voltage the system generates. Generally if you have a smaller system you will want to use a 12 volt battery, if larger 24 volts. If you are designing an entire office building or telecommunications, then you can think about using a 48 volt battery.

Your last big consideration is the cables that are required to connect your panels, battery and inverter. The placement of the components of your solar panel design will play a big part in determining what type of cables you need. The further apart your components are the more potential for energy loss, investing in higher quality or larger cables would be optimal in that case.

Now your design should be relatively complete, and you need to determine what type and size of inverter you are using. Check with the local municipal government for requirements and possible financial advantages when it comes to using inverters.

You should have a relatively good design after attending to these details, next you want to ensure you understand how to wire a solar system, and get your materials ready. With a little energy beforehand you will spare yourself some grief in the long run.

Jakob Jelling runs http://www.solarpanelmanual.com which focuses on solar energy. Please visit his web site to learn more about solar panel design.

The world is currently suffering from energy and fuel crisis. Fossil fuels are incessantly depleting and so energy bills are soaring higher and higher. Many homeowners and establishments are now complaining about their huge expenses. But did you know that there is an answer to the crisis and it has long been available to man. However, because of its inefficiency, it is not recognized as a viable solution. Solar energy is free but the cost of generating it is a bit expensive. With the vast improvements in technology, there are now more affordable options for those who want to use solar energy to supply power in their homes and offices.

If the prospect of actually getting a check back from the electric company, instead of writing one, sounds good to you " youre going to love this article.

Were going to look at how simple it really is to harness the power of the sun to augment or replace the electricity you pay for each month.

How Solar Energy Works
Solar panels consist of photovoltaic cells. Their name comes from the Greek terms for light (photo) and power (volts). These cells convert sunlight (photons) to electricity (electrons). From simple solar calculators, to the huge photovoltaic arrays that power satellites, the basic principles generating electricity from the sun are all the same.

So, How Does Solar Energy Work?
Photovoltaic (PV) cells contain semiconductor materials usually made from silicon. When sunlight strikes the solar panel, some of that light is absorbed by the semiconductor material.

This process creates an energy transfer by stimulating the electrons found in the silicon. The panel channels these flowing electrons in a common direction which creates an electrical current.

The top and bottom of the solar panels contain metal contacts that the current is attracted to. The contacts are connected to wires which are used to channel electricity to your home through some special equipment.

Theres a lot more physics at work than I covered in this simple description. But you dont have to know anything about the deeper scientific principles to using solar power in your home.

Heres What the Typical Residential Solar Setup Looks Like One or more solar panels are installed on the roof or somewhere on the ground where there is plenty of sunlight. How many panels you use depends on how many kilowatt hours (kWh) you want to generate.

Installing solar panels couldnt be easier. If you can use a power drill, screwdriver, tape measure and a hammer, you have the skills you need.

You connect wires to the connectors on the panel and run those wires to a charge controller. This is a simple plug-in device that regulates how much electricity enters your home at any one time.

Then you connect the controller to an inverter. The inverter converts the incoming 12 VDC power to 120 VAC.

Finally, if you want to be able to store the generated power for later use, the inverter is connected to a series of storage batteries. These batteries are usually connected to your home circuit breaker panel.

Thats all there is to it. And dont worry if some of these devices sound foreign to you. You can buy solar panel kits that come with everything you need. Converting to solar energy is a great family weekend project.

Jakob Jelling runs http://www.solarpanelmanual.com which focuses on solar panel technology.

Report on renewable landscape solar at the threshold report ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=98800&rt=Report-on-renewable-landscape-solar-at-the-threshold.html ) assess that Solar energy is the most abundant source of renewable power available globally, yet its widescale deployment has progressed only very slowly. Despite the depressed outlook in 2009, solar energy promises significant medium and long-term growth opportunity. Yet, until true demand-pull can be created, the industry remains at the mercy of government programs that drive artificially stimulated demand.

Scope of this research

* Ten years worth of annual global power output data, for both conventional and all mainstream renewable technologies. * Global cumulative and new annual installed solar capacity data since 1998 and a breakdown of the ten largest markets across both metrics. * Summary data relating to PV production costs, plant costs, solar electricity generating costs and the main direct and indirect subsidy mechanisms. * A SWOT analysis, an overview of the embattled Spanish market, 2009 solar market growth estimates and a review of growth expectations to 2013.

Research and analysis highlights

2008 was an exceptional year for the PV market, driven by political will and strong subsidies, mainly in Spain and Germany. However, a change in the Spanish solar subsidy is now threatening the development of an entire sector. At best, solar PV market growth in 2009 will fall back to 2001 levels the lowest levels on record for the past decade. There are nine main EU-sponsored mechanisms that promote the development of solar power by means other than direct subsidy, yet the direct subsidy feed-in tariff is the most powerful mechanism to rapidly grow grid-connected solar power markets. Under the best possible scenario, however, solar energy is still a few years away from true grid parity. Solar energy is one of only three means of achieving the EU's 20-20-20 climate change ambitions. Solar also has a role to play in meeting future increases in power demand across EU Member States. Ultimately, growth levels are expected to pick up in 2010, yet the industry's target of 12% of final EU electricity demand by 2020 are unlikely to be met.

Key reasons to purchase this research

* Quickly determine and assimilate the most critical developments and issues that characterize the global solar market today and in years to come. * Benchmark the relative appeal of solar energy against other renewable and conventional types of power generation. * Understand how global growth will be impacted by technology maturity, policy incentives and investor appetite, and tailor your strategy accordingly.

To know more and to buy a copy of your report feel free to visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=98800&rt=Report-on-renewable-landscape-solar-at-the-threshold.html

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Everybodys talking about solar energy. With all the buzz, youd think we just discovered the sun. Of course, the sun has been around for a few billion years and, surprisingly, so has solar energy. We just havent done much with it until lately.

Generating electricity from the sun isnt terribly complicated. In fact, it doesnt require a huge financial investment or any special knowledge that cant be picked up by reading the right material.

How Solar Energy Saves YOU Money If your home is connected to the public power grid, you pay your electric utility company for the amount of power you use each month.

Actually, if you look at your bill, youll probably see that in addition to paying for electricity, youre also paying fuel surcharges and any number of local, county, state or federal taxes. Add that all up and electricity can take quite a bite out of your monthly budget.

The U.S. Department of Energy publishes annual average electricity costs by state. These costs are displayed as a number of cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). The actual definition of a kilowatt hour isnt important, but how many kilowatt hours you consume each month is.

Here are some typical usage examples for electrical appliances and devices you probably have in your home:

A 1000 watt space heater uses 1 kWh hour for every hour you run it A 60 watt light bulb uses 0.06 kWh A 12000 BTU AC unit uses 300 kWh A central AC unit uses 900 kWh A dishwasher uses 30 kWh

Its easy to see that every kWh you take off the grid and replace with solar energy saves you real money.

Want To Get Paid For Generating Solar Power? Not only can you slash, or even eliminate your power bill by converting to solar energy but, depending upon where you live, your local utility company may actually be required to purchase the excess energy your solar system generates above your actual monthly consumption!

So, How Do You Get Started Slashing Your Electric Bill? Check your monthly electric bill and see how many kWh you are billed for. Then use this formula to identify the actual kWh usage of everything you plug in:

kWh = watts/1000

For example, a PC and monitor consumes 365 watts so 365/1000 = .0365 kWh.

If you use your PC for 75 hours per month, it consumes 27.4 kWh (.0365*75). Multiply that by your kWh cost, and thats what you pay to use your computer (before surcharges and taxes).

Once you know what you pay for each electrical device, you can start working on calculating how many kWh you want to have your solar system generate.

We all know the numerous benefits of building your own solar panels, but what about the benefits of learning how to make your own solar powered water heater. Unlike coal, oil and gas it does not produce harmful emissions when burned. Also, it is a renewable energy source so we do not have to worry about how much is left! As if that isn't enough finding out how to build a solar water heater can save you even more money.

There are so many different alternative sources of energy you can go for. Be it wind, or solar panels, many people have been seeking to get free electricity to power their homes. Magnetic power, championed by the The Magniwork Company with its Magniwork Generator System is gradually becoming a very popular and powerful way through which you can generate electricity to power your house.

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