If you're thinking of solar power as an option for your home, then congratulations. Taking steps towards renewable energy is a worthy cause. There are many options with solar electricity in terms of how much you want to use, how you want to combine it with other sources and installation options. Solar power is expensive to install in homes and offices and must be done by an electrician, but once installed, there is only the negligible cost of maintenance to worry about, and the savings attached with the use of this power source. It's worthwhile thinking about the energy that you use and whether solar power can realistically meet your demand.
Ratio of energy usage - how often do you use what?
Being connected to the national power grid means you can use as much energy as you need (or want) to use. The only danger is the potential epic bill you may receive. Relying on solar power alone means you will have a limited amount of energy available to you. Think about how often you use electricity around your home and whether solar power alone can power your home. Usually solar power is used in combination with wind-power or the grid. More about that later.
Extent of solar power's capabilities.
Solar power's capabilities in terms of your home or office will depend on whether or not the building is appropriately built and located to support the installations required. You will need to consider the following things:
- Is your roof sufficiently unshaded and North-facing to gain maximum benefit from solar power?
- What size and scope is right for you? You will need to talk to your electrician or installer about this.
- Can your roof support the solar panels required for power generation?
Many buildings will not meet the criteria for complete solar power support. Partial solar power installation is a good option and will still save you money.
Installation options.
Solar power is an intermittent energy source, meaning it is only available when the sun is shining directly on whatever collection method being used, whether through photovoltaic solar panels (PV) or the mirrors and lenses of concentrated solar power (CSP). The effectiveness of solar power relies on it being stored when not being immediately used. There are two main solutions to this problem. Rechargeable batteries are the traditional way of storing solar power, and are usually installed in systems where solar power is used conjunction with other alternate energy sources such as wind power. The other option is to use a Solar Bonus Scheme. This means that the energy you produce is fed into the national grid, gaining you credits with the power company. Effectively you are using the grid as a storage unit for your electricity. This has the added benefit of guaranteeing you power at all times, but means you are still connected to the grid. Talk to an electrical services company about what is best for you, your home or business.
Possible sacrifices you'll have to make.
If you're interested in solar power for your home, chances are you're already thinking about ways to cut back on energy usage. If you're using an "off-the-grid" solar power method, then you will need to be very careful you don't flippantly waste the power you've generated. Small things will count like using an energy efficient washing machine and ensuring that you turn off the lights when you leave rooms or the house. You may have to sacrifice air conditioning, a dishwasher, a dryer and other high energy-using devices, but most of these items and devices are luxuries.
Solar power can be used in your home or office, but your options may be limited due to the restrictions of your building. Combining solar power with wind generation is usually the answer here, and taking it a step further by using a credit scheme will take you closer to a negligible carbon footprint in leaps and bounds.
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