How to Make Use of Solar Energy

Solar power is one of the world’s primary renewable energy sources. The sun’s rays alone produce enough energy to exceed the world’s total energy supply by a factor of nearly 10,000! By harnessing just a fraction of that power it is perfectly possible to meet global energy demands despite the continual growth in world population and rising standard of living. But how can we make use of this, one of our most valuable natural energy resources? The answers can be found in technology that exists today - thermal energy transfer technology and light energy transfer technology.

Thermal Energy Technology

Electrical power may be created directly from the sun’s heat. Power plants have systems that harness the sun’s thermal power by using mirrors to focus the sun’s heat energy onto a network of pipes, through which a fluid (water) is pumped. The transfer of thermal energy from the mirrors makes the pipes hot enough to boil the water and thus to create steam. The steam then powers a turbine, which creates electricity. Some solar energy power plants in use today generate enough electricity to power whole cities.

The main issue with thermal energy technologies though is that, for them to work, the sun needs to be shining. When it is cloudy electricity is not generated! For this reason alone its applications are rather limited in the UK - and although it is certainly possible to install such a system at your property for domestic use, one that uses solar light energy to create electrical power is likely to be more cost-effective in the long run.

Solar Light Energy Technology

Converting natural light to electricity is a technology that has been around since the 1950s. Its applications are numerous - from powering something as simple as a calculator to providing energy to spacecraft systems in flight. The most recognised use of this technology however is by way of roof-mounted solar panels.

Solar panels, which are also known as photovoltaic (PV) panels, collect light energy from the sun via an array of silicon-based solar cells. When light from the sun strikes those cells an electrical reaction takes place in the silicon at an atomic level. Electrons are knocked free by the light creating positively and negatively charged surfaces. When these surfaces are ‘rejoined’ by a connector, a current of electricity is generated between the two opposing sides.

Today, solar light energy technology is very advanced. The sun does not even have to shine for solar panels to generate electricity…good news for us then under the mostly cloudy skies of the UK!

Why install Solar (PV) Panels?

Solar (PV) panels represent one of the cleanest forms of energy generation in the world. Once installed a sufficient array of panels can cover off all your electricity needs at your property. You can even sell any excess electricity you generate to the National Grid! Just imagine that…your electricity company will pay you rather than you pay them!!

The main obstacle most people fear overcoming however is the cost of buying and installing solar (PV) panels. It is true that panels are not cheap - some of the most efficient solar panel systems can cost upwards of £15,000. Thankfully the government does offer up to a 50% grant, potentially slashing your initial costs in half. In terms of the savings that you can make on your electricity bill…and the potential for selling your excess to the National Grid, even the most expensive of installations could pay for themselves within 10 years.

Adding weight to the advantages of having such a system installed is the value that roof-mounted solar (PV) panels can add to your property. As these units become more mainstream, and their cost advantages become increasingly apparent to the public, homes with PV panels will become more sought after. Some sellers have already seen their homes rise in value by 6% and more, just because they have the ability to generate their own electricity!

How to safely install a solar powered hot water system

Living under the cloudy skies of Britain you could be forgiven for assuming that heating the water in your home by solar power is little more than wishful thinking. But, as more and more householders who have solar panels installed on their roofs are finding out, even when the sun’s not shining heating your water by solar power still works…and saves money!

Solar power technology for domestic properties

To heat your hot water using solar energy, three components are needed:

• Solar panels — These are set on the roof of the property to collect solar heat. For optimum performance it is preferable that the roof slopes to a southerly aspect where sunlight exposure is maximised. Before installation you may need to apply for planning consent. However, you should check with the planning office as changes to permitted development rights for microgeneration technology in April 2008 have helped lift many of the planning restrictions applied to roof-mounted solar panels.

Two types of solar panel are available: flat panels, which collect solar heat through a large absorber plate; and evacuated tube arrays, which collect heat via individual absorber plates within the tubes.

• Heat exchanger — A method of transferring heat energy from the solar panels to the domestic hot water system is required. This is often achieved via a manifold system through which the domestic water supply is run. The energy from the panels heats the fluid as it passes through the manifold.

• Hot water tank — For storage of the solar heated water. This may be a cylinder that is additional to your existing hot water tank.

Purchase and Installation

Flat panel solar technology costs around £3,000 to £5,000 to purchase and install. Evacuated tube systems are more advanced, more efficient and (naturally) more expensive!

It is highly recommended that a certified professional installer experienced in solar powered hot water systems is employed for the installation. They can also help you assess your requirements and recommend suitable products for your situation and budget.

Solar powered hot water systems normally come with a 5-10 year warranty. They require very little in the way of maintenance - just an annual check to make sure that the panels are free from debris, and that the water is being heated sufficiently. A more thorough examination of the system by a qualified installer is recommended every 3-5 years.

Benefits of solar power

In the UK a solar powered system will typically supply between a third and a half of all your hot water requirements. The fuel ‘displaced’ can be considerable. In a gas-heated property, savings of up to £70-£80 a year can be expected. For properties whose hot water supply is electrically heated you can factor in a saving of £100-£120 a year! Given that energy prices are rising fast, is it time you considered the solar option?

Fire in the Wall  by Tony Dawe

As you switch on the lights, plug in the TV or turn on the computer, do you ever give a thought to the wires carrying electricity to these fittings? You should:

• Almost half of all homes are at least 50 years old and often fall short of today’s electrical safety standards.

• Older homes were not designed to cope with the number of electrical appliances owned by today’s families.

• Electrical work in homes in England and Wales is still not protected by building regulations (unlike in Scotland).

Fixed wiring in new homes and any appliances permanently connected to the power supply—ovens, immersion heaters, showers—used to be checked by electricity companies before they switched on the supply. But since privatisation, this is happening less and less. A recent study found that 89 per cent of house buyers wrongly assume a property survey covers electrics.

Here’s how to take stock of your home’s potential hot spots:

If fuses continuously blow, circuit breakers keep tripping, lights flicker, or appliances stop and start for no reason, it’s a sign that the wiring is faulty or the circuit’s overloaded. It may be something as simple as the wrong size fuse in a plug or an unsuitable connector in a fuse in the fuse box.

The common response to a shortage of sockets for today’s electrical equipment is to use double adaptors or trailing sockets.

Nearly 40 per cent of Britain’s homes were built pre-1945. Old wiring doesn’t necessarily mean trouble. But be alert for a smell like that of rotting fish. This could indicate that insulation protecting wiring is damaged and that the wires are overheating. There is a simple way for a qualified electrician to check: unscrew sockets or light switches and take a careful look inside. Cracked or crumbling in-sulation is a sure sign of dangerous wiring.

Lighting circuits installed before 1960 were often not earthed, creating a real risk of shocks in older homes if metal light fittings have recently been installed. Electrical fires can also result from arcing, in which a spark “jumps” between two ends of a broken wire or a loose connection. Arcs can heat nearby insulation, which could burst into flames.

House wiring should be checked every ten years. And if you’re moving and your prospective property does not have the appropriate electrical certification, get an electrical survey. 

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