Merrac

08/22/2022

The second Friday in March is Solar Appreciation Day! We’re taking advantage of this opportunity to share the major benefits of sun power.

The source of solar energy—the sun—is nearly limitless and can be accessed anywhere on earth at one time or another. It would take around 10 million acres of land—or only 0.4% of the area of the United States—to allow enough space for solar photovoltaics (PV) to supply all of our nation’s electricity.
Solar panel installation costs are way down. The cost of solar panel installation is less than $3 a watt; a whopping 65% decrease from $8.50 per watt 10 years ago.
New solar technologies are capturing more and more of the sun’s rays. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has created six-junction solar cells that convert 47% of the captured sunlight into electricity—by comparison, most commercially available modules convert less than 20%.
Silicon solar cells can withstand the test of time. In 1954, Bell Laboratories built the first silicon solar cell—the template for nearly all of the solar PV technologies in use today.
Solar can help restart the grid if it goes down. Typically, a signal from a spinning turbine—like that from a coal or natural gas plant—is required to “set the beat” of the grid. Now, DOE research is support advanced solar system that can take the lead, restarting the grid if no spinning turbine is available.
Solar has been one of the top three new sources of generation added to the grid in the last seven years. In fact, solar provides 30% of the new electricity produced in the United States in 2019, up from just 4% in 2010.
Solar is an economic engine—about 250,000 people work in the U.S. solar industry these days and there are more than 10,000 solar businesses around the country.
Solar costs have fallen dramatically. The cost of an average-size residential solar energy system decreased 55% between 2010 and 2018, from $40,000 to $18,000—and that’s before factoring in incentives like the solar Investment Tax Credit. DOE is also focusing on reducing financing burdens and red tape for American families who choose to go solar.
Solar panels are a manufactured product that take significantly less energy to fabricate than they produce over their lifetime.

Reproduced: www.energy.gov

07/21/2022

# How solar panels generate power #

How do solar panels produce electricity?
The question many people have is: How does solar energy work? Unlike power from a wind turbine or even a power plant, P.V. solar panels don’t seem to have any moving parts — so how exactly is that energy being produced?

Solar panels capture energy from the sun and convert it into electricity and heat. Using silicon-based photovoltaic (P.V.) cells, solar energy generates both types of power. Multiple P.V. cells constitute a solar panel, and many solar panels are put together to create an array that typically covers rooftops or ground-mounted solar farms.

Commonly made of silicon, solar panels are held together by a metal frame and a glass casing. Silicon, the second most abundant element on earth after oxygen, is a useful semiconductor. That means it can conduct electricity in certain conditions.

When particles of sunlight, called photons, reach the surface of the silicon of the solar panel, they reflect off the cell and get absorbed by the silicon. Electrons are freed from silicon atoms once the semiconductor takes in enough solar energy. The P.V. charge makes a direct current (D.C.), captured at the solar panel wiring. A device known as an inverter converts the D.C. power to alternating current (A.C.) — the electricity used for homes and businesses. After the solar energy turns from D.C. to A.C., it moves through the electrical panels, lights up your home, and powers your appliances.

Solar panels generate power only during the day. If sunlight can reach them, they continue to generate electricity even during cloudy or snowy conditions.

Since 2010, solar energy has become increasingly popular in the U.S. In 2020, solar accounted for roughly 3% of electricity generation in the U.S. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects solar power to increase and constitute almost half of the new U.S. electric power generating capacity in 2022.

A nearly 90% drop in photovoltaic (P.V.) solar panel costs since 2010 has propelled solar as an important source of clean and renewable energy. It can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other harmful chemicals that contribute to climate change. Carbon opponents embrace solar energy to generate electricity without harming the environment.

P.V. solar panels are now widespread and accessible. With an estimated 97.2 gigawatts of solar power capacity in the U.S., there is sufficient energy to power 18 million American homes. Residential homeowners are increasingly placing panels on their roofs. Solar “farms” are taking shape all around the country. North America is also a growing market for floating solar panels installed on structures that float on top of a body of water. They are usually placed on a reservoir or a lake. According to the EIA, P.V. solar panels installed on an area the size of Lake Michigan could provide enough power for the entire U.S.

This is an exciting time for solar in the U.S. California is a national leader in solar generation, followed by Texas, Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. In 2021, solar power grew at the fastest rate in the U.S.

Reproduced: www.saveonenergy.com
Author: Saltanat Berdikeeva
Editor: Hannah Hillson

07/14/2022

#5 Things to Know About Portable Power Stations #
Since generators emit carbon monoxide, they require that you take critical safety measures, including running the device outside, at least 20 feet away from any structure.

But in an age when we can charge our smartphones with a battery pack that fits inside a pants pocket, shouldn't there be a simpler way to restore power in the wake of a storm? Or, say, power a campsite without the constant hum of a gas-fueled generator?

Such is the promise of portable power stations, also known as battery-powered inverter generators. Essentially, they're oversized rechargeable batteries—about the size of a countertop microwave oven—that you plug into a typical 110-volt outlet to top off.

When duty calls, you can safely run a portable power station inside, since it doesn't generate any emissions. They have enough capacity to power a few small appliances for a short time. With a host of different outlets (standard 120v outlets, USB ports, and DC chargers), you can use the station to charge electronics, too. And the units often come with portable solar panels, to add more charging capabilities and extend runtime.

“These generators have no fumes and all of the models we tested made virtually no noise,” says test engineer Dave Trezza, who oversees generator testing at Consumer Reports. “But, if these power stations go dead and you’re unable to use your solar panels, you can’t recharge them. You can’t just use another gallon of gas.”

1. THEY CAN’T DELIVER NEARLY AS MUCH POWER AS GAS GENERATORS
As with their gasoline-fueled counterparts, portable power stations require a transfer switch should you wish to power things such as your furnace, overhead lights, or any thing else in your home that’s hardwired.

But while a recreational inverter generator would probably keep the TV and a few lights on for 8 to 13 hours on one tank of gas, you'd see anywhere from 3 to 9 hours of power, under the same circumstances, with a portable power station.

And you won't be able to run, for instance, your power-guzzling well pump.

2. THEY TAKE AWHILE TO CHARGE
In our tests, most of these models require hours of charging (typically overnight) to provide you with a full battery and max runtime.

So—assuming you fully charged the battery before a predicted weather event—a portable power station could give you hours of electricity to run a refrigerator or another essential appliance.

But Trezza notes that once the battery is dead, if you’re without power and minimal sun, there’s no way to recharge.

3. CHARGING WITH SOLAR PANELS CAN BE IFFY AND LENGTHY
If you're dealing with an outage or you're otherwise off the grid, charging the power station via solar panels is your only option—and that's provided you have good sun and no obstructions.

In our tests, we found that the solar panels can add to the runtime, but that might only amount to an extra hour or two of power with larger appliances.

4. THEY’RE NOT ALL THAT PORTABLE
Portable power stations are about the size of an average microwave oven, but they're fairly heavy—most in our tests weigh more than 80 pounds.

That means you'll likely need an extra pair of hands to lift one into the trunk of your car. Some of the models come with wheels, but not all wheels are large in size, which makes rolling them across a lawn difficult.

5. THEY DON’T COME CHEAP
The portable power stations we tested cost between $1,500 and $3,500. And our best portable gas generator costs less than the worst portable power station.

Before buying one of these power stations, consider if you might be better served by a portable generator. In the event of a outage, you can continue to add fuel, and portable generators typically provide enough power to keep larger appliances running. Check out our buying guide on generators to learn which type might best suit your needs.

GENERATOR TIPS
Damaging storms can happen at any time. On the 'Consumer 101' TV show, host Jack Rico learns from Consumer Reports’ expert, Paul Hope, how to avoid being left in the dark during a power outage.5 Things to Know About Portable Power Stations
Reproduced: www.consumerreports.org / By Haniya Rae

07/14/2022

07/11/2022

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