Solar

What Is Solar Power? And Why Should You Be Interested In It Today?

Solar Power

With news of the Paris Climate Agreement, it’s clear that we’re rapidly approaching a time when sustainable energy will be necessary to support our planet. Solar energy has been on the rise in recent years, and for good reason – you can’t beat solar power for the ability to produce clean, renewable energy without having to rely on fossil fuels, which are becoming more and more difficult to get.

Introduction to Solar Power

As the world progresses, more and more emphasis is being placed on renewable energy sources. Solar power is one of the most promising renewable energy sources available today. Solar power is created by converting sunlight into electricity. This can be done through a variety of methods, but the most common method is photovoltaics. Photovoltaic cells, or solar panels, are used to convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.

Solar power has many advantages over traditional fossil fuel-based energy sources. First, it is a renewable resource that will never run out. Second, solar power is a very low impact on the environment, as it emits no greenhouse gases during operation. Third, solar power is becoming increasingly cost-competitive with other forms of energy generation. And finally, solar power offers a great deal of flexibility in terms of applications – it can be used to generate electricity for a single home or business, or it can be scaled up to provide power for an entire community or even a utility-scale power plant.

Solar Power

If you’re interested in learning more about solar power and how you can take advantage of this clean, renewable energy source, read on for an introduction to solar power.

Types of Solar Panels

Solar power is a renewable energy source that has many advantages over traditional fossil fuels. Solar panels are becoming more efficient and less expensive, making them a viable option for homeowners and businesses alike.

There are two main types of solar panels: photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP). PV panels convert sunlight into electricity, while CSP systems use mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a small area to generate heat, which is then used to power a generator.

PV panels are the most common type of solar panel in use today. They are typically made from silicon, a material that is abundant on Earth. PV panels can be used to power everything from small electronic devices to entire homes and businesses.

CSP systems are more expensive than PV panels, but they have the advantage of being able to store energy in the form of heat. This makes them well-suited for applications such as providing backup power during an outage or powering a home or business during peak demand hours when electricity rates are highest.

Solar System Benefits

Solar power is a renewable energy source that can be used to generate electricity or heat. Solar power comes from the sun, and it’s natural, so it’s a sustainable resource. Solar power is also very efficient; it can be used to generate a lot of electricity with very little pollution.

There are many benefits to using solar power. One benefit is that it can help reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Solar energy is also good for the environment because it doesn’t produce pollution. Additionally, solar energy is a renewable resource, so it can help us preserve our natural resources. And finally, solar power is becoming increasingly more affordable as technology improves and costs decrease.

How Much Can You Save with Solar Power?

Solar power is a renewable energy source that can be used to generate electricity or heat. Solar energy is captured through the use of solar panels, which convert the sun’s rays into electrical energy. Solar is an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional forms of energy generation, such as fossil fuels.

The amount of money you can save with solar energy depends on a number of factors, including the size and efficiency of your solar panel system, the amount of sunlight you receive, and your current energy consumption. However, you can generally expect to see a significant reduction in your energy bills after switching to solar. In some cases, homeowners have even been able to eliminate their electric bills entirely!

When Should You Consider Switching to Solar Power?

If you’re interested in reducing your carbon footprint and saving money on your energy bills, you may be considering switching to solar. But how do you know if solar is right for you? Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to switch to solar:

  1. The amount of sunlight your home receives: Solar panels need direct sunlight to work effectively, so if your home doesn’t get a lot of sunshine, it may not be the best option for you.
  2. The size and orientation of your roof: Your roof needs to be large enough and facing the right direction (generally south) in order to accommodate solar panels.
  3. The cost of installation: Solar panel installation can be costly, so you’ll need to factor that into your decision. However, many homeowners find that the long-term savings on their energy bills more than make up for the initial investment.
  4. Your energy usage: If you use a lot of energy, switching to solar can help you offset a significant portion of your costs. Even if you don’t use a lot of energy, solar can still save you money by offsetting the cost of electricity from the grid.
  5. Your state’s incentives

What’s the Difference Between a Battery Backup and an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)?

A battery backup is a device that provides power to a load when the input power source fails. A UPS also provides power to a load when the input power source fails, but it does so using batteries and/or an auxiliary power source.

Conclusion

Solar power is a renewable energy source that can be used to generate electricity and heat. Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels, and there are many reasons why you should be interested in it today. Solar is environmentally friendly, it’s cost-effective, and it offers a great return on investment. If you’re looking for an alternative energy source that will help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint, solar power is definitely worth considering.

Solliance hits 30.1% efficiency on perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell

Solliance hits 30.1% efficiency on perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell

The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), the Delft University of Technology, the Eindhoven University of Technology, and Belgian research institute Imec have achieved a 30.1% power conversion efficiency with a semi-transparent perovskite solar cell, combined with a crystalline silicon solar cell in a four-terminal tandem configuration. TNO, TU Eindhoven, imec, and TU Delft – partners in Solliance – joined forces to further push the conversion efficiency of tandem solar cells beyond the limits of today’s commercial photovoltaic (PV) modules. Four-terminal perovskite/silicon tandem devices with certified top cells pass the barrier of 30% for the first time. Such high efficiency enables more power per square meter and less cost per kWh.

The result was presented during the 8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-8) in Milan and has been achieved by combining the emerging perovskite solar cell with conventional silicon solar cell technologies. The perovskite cell that features transparent contacts and is part of the tandem stack has been independently certified.

Additionally, achieving high-power density will create more opportunities to integrate these solar cells into construction and building elements so that more existing surface area can be covered with PV modules. Breaking the 30% barrier is a big step in accelerating the energy transition and improving energy security by reducing the dependency on fossil fuels.

The best of both worlds
Tandem devices can reach higher efficiencies than single junction solar cells because of better solar spectrum utilization. The currently emerging tandems combine commercial silicon technology for the bottom device with perovskite technology, featuring highly efficient conversion of ultraviolet and visible light and excellent transparency to near-infrared light. In four-terminal (4T) tandem devices, the top and bottom cells operate independently, making it possible to apply different bottom cells in this kind of device. Commercial PERC technology and premium technologies like heterojunction or TOPCon or thin-film technology such as CIGS can be implemented in a 4T tandem device with hardly any modifications to the solar cells. Furthermore, the four-terminal architecture makes it straightforward to implement bifacial tandems to boost the energy yield further.

From left to right: Yifeng Zhao (TU Delft) – Mehrdad Najafi (TNO) – Valerio Zardetto (TNO) – Dong Zhang (TNO). Photographer: Niels van Loon. (Image source https://www.tudelft.nl/ )

Researchers from the Netherlands and Belgium have successfully improved the efficiency of the semi-transparent perovskite cells up to 19.7% with an area of 3×3 mm2 as certified by ESTI (Italy). ‘This type of solar cell features a highly transparent back contact that allows over 93% of the near-infrared light to reach the bottom device. This performance was achieved by optimizing all layers of the semi-transparent perovskite solar cells using advanced optical and electrical simulations as a guide for the experimental work in the lab,’ says Mehrdad Najafi of TNO. ‘The silicon device is a 20×20-mm2 wide, heterojunction solar cell featuring optimized surface passivation, transparent conductive oxides, and Cu-plated front contacts for state-of-the-art carrier extraction,’ says Yifeng Zhao, a Ph.D. student at TU Delft, whose results have been recently peer-reviewed. The silicon device optically stacked under the perovskite contributes 10.4% efficiency points to the total solar energy conversion. Combined, 30.1% is the conversion efficiency of these non-area-matched 4T tandem devices operating independently. This world’s best efficiency is measured according to generally accepted procedures.

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Energy Storage System (ESS)

energy storage system

Energy from renewables must be consumed and generated simultaneously. Solar produces power when the sun shines, and wind generates power when the wind blows. The future of renewable energy depends on our ability to store it. We need an Energy Storage System (ESS) to accelerate the clean energy transition, reduce costs, and increase reliability for businesses, utilities, and communities. A Solar Power system connected with battery energy storage maximizes the value of solar energy.

Battery storage technologies are essential to speed up the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy. Battery storage technology is crucial in ensuring homes and businesses can be powered by green energy, even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind has stopped blowing.

What is a Battery Energy Storage System?

A battery energy storage system (BESS) is an electrochemical device. That charges (or stores energy) from the grid or Solar power system and then discharges that energy later to provide electricity when needed. A battery energy storage unit contains several components: one or more battery modules and a battery management system with various sensors.

Battery storage, or battery energy storage systems (BESS), store energy from renewables (solar and wind), and The stored energy can power your home at night or during a power outage.

To discuss and evaluate battery storage technologies, we should first define some terms that are relevant and specific to storage discussions.

Battery energy storage systems are considerably more advanced than the batteries you insert in your TV remotes & children’s toys.

A battery storage system can be charged by renewable energy or a grid.

Intelligent software uses algorithms to coordinate energy production, and computerized control systems decide when to keep the energy to provide reserves or release it to the grid.

Benefits Of A Battery Energy Storage System

Battery Energy Storage Systems store excess energy produced by your Solar System during the daytime (when your solar panels are generating power) in a battery. The stored #energy can power your home at night or during a power outage.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) can charge with multiple options like Solar energy, wind energy, or the grid.

Best Cells for BESS

Lithium-ion batteries are the dominant form of energy storage. Lithium-Ion Batteries can hold a charge longer than other batteries, are less expensive, and have a smaller footprint. Batteries do not generate power; batteries store energy.

who is looking to reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint at the same time? BESS is the best solution for homes owners and businesses.

Solar panels only generate electricity when the sun is shining. Combines a battery energy storage system with solar PV to reduce energy costs and carbon footprint at the same time.

A combined solar and storage installation can adjust for any dips in a generation that weather creates.

Storage Batteries can also allow you to disconnect from the grid and keep your equipment running for a predetermined period.

If you need power during later hours of the day, you can benefit from adding a battery storage system to your solar PV.

Battery energy storage provides peace of mind with keeping the power on during an outage. Energy storage works with or without solar and is a safe and seamless alternative to small generators. Generators are one of the main contributors to carbon monoxide.