I'm interested in installing myself but have no knowledge of solar panels.Can the excess be sold back to the national grid and how does that work?. What is the average cost?. Where is the best place to get all the equipment from?. Does anyone sell kits for individuals with everything needed included.? What can be run off an average size panel. What is the best size panel to start with?.
2006-06-29 20:07:01 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment
They don't really produce enough electricity to sell to the National grid. I assume you're in the UK. A better bet is panels that heat water using the heat of the sun. In winter the water coming off the mains is close to freezing, warm it up before it goes in to your hot water tank and that will save energy and much cheaper than solar panels that produce electricity. I assume you are turning your computer off when not needed. Turning your TV off instead of leaving it on standby. Using low energy light bulbs. Wearing warm clothing in winter and turning the heating down a little. Driving only when you have to? Saving energy is usually better than producing it. I'm quite interested in these new "bright" LEDs - they are really efficient at producing light. I find "low energy" light bulbs are useless for many applications. Like I can't see to read! Leds may replace them soon. I had LEDs for my Christmas lights and they were efficient and controllable.
2006-06-30 11:38:59 · answer #1 · answered by Mike10613 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Research suggests that solar panels are the most expensive form of energy production. The panels and storage equipment necessary are expensive. Use a lot of energy and produce polution to manufacture. They do not last long before their efficiency starts to degrade and would need replacing periodically as would the storage devices used. They are not recyclable and in fact due to the matels used are disposal problem.
Whilst someone has suggested panels would break even in ten to fifteen years, they are unlikely to be producing enough power by then so you will be needing to replace them. Also by then you will have had to replace the storage devices. Probably several times.
Solar panels are yet in their infancy and they will no doubt get it right in a few years down the line.
Solar power is a dream of the western invironmental lobby and their spin meisters. If it were one tenth what they say it is all the tropical countries would have it. They dont. They have seen the research, many in fact are doing it themselves and they know it is currently a waste of money. Windpower now - many of them have gone for that.
As someone has already answered solar heating of water is very efficient and cheap.
Currently there is no alternative source of energy capable of putting a dent in the need for oil, gas or nuclear power. The green lobbys insistence that there is is holding back research and and trying to sell us an empty sack.
You can make the biggest energy saving by regulating your use of power. Just turning televisions and electrical devices off instead of stand by saves a lot. Keeping fridges and freezers fairly full ensures they work more efficiently. Putting clothes on or taking them off instead of using heat or ventilation saves huge amounts.
2006-07-03 16:27:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Installing solar panels for conversion of solar ebnergy requires quite a bit of wiring, and hardware, such as the panels, a high power battery charger, a considerable bank of deep cycle batteries, an inverter to convert DC power to AC, and a switch over circuit, to say nothing of a controller to monitor the whole system.
Unless you live in an area where power is very expensive (which we all could in the not too distant future), the current cost of the power you save over the life of the system (battery replacement, etc.) won't exceed the cost of the power right from the grid. Of course witht he price of oil changing, this may become more viable in the not too distant future!
2006-06-30 08:21:38 · answer #3 · answered by Xander 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are hundreds of sources including your local phone book for alternative energy sources. You can also try some of these websites and email or call them.
http://www.solarenergy.com/
http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/solar.html
http://www.knowledgehound.com/topics/altenerg.htm
http://www.homepower.com/
http://www.aeesolar.com/
*You can start with two panels kit that you can install yourself. A $15,000 kit could generate enough power for your entire house. The more expensive kits will include batteries, a generator in case the batteries are not charging on severly cloudy days. The power company will buy any extra power you don't use, plus you get tax breaks and rebates from your state. Break-even cost normally is around 5 to 10 years depending on how much you spend or how much power you need.
2006-06-30 05:02:38 · answer #4 · answered by xrey 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I found a place where you can just plug the solar panels into your home to slow the meter down.
http://www.plugngen.com
Hope this helps.
2014-05-14 00:21:34 · answer #5 · answered by Firecracker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most houses in turkey have solar panelling. you should research how they do it.
2006-06-30 08:34:31 · answer #6 · answered by myra m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
www.altenergystore.com/cart/university/seminars/introduction/beginners_guide.html
2006-06-30 03:25:09 · answer #7 · answered by flymetothemoon279 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋