The concept of climate change has become a real, present danger,
as evidenced by the major shifts in temperature and weather all over
our planet. Although it is too late to stop it now, it is possible to keep
things for getting worse. One major way to do this is to encourage the
uses of alternative energy sources, instead of using fossil
fuels to power our factories, cars and homes. These
non-renewable, dirty, expensive  energy sources can be
replaced by other technologies, such as solar power.
Solar power is produced by using solar panels, which are
essentially conversion and storage devices for capturing solar
energy and turning it into usable electricity. Many people want
to do their part in saving the planet and saving themselves
money on their light bills, too, but they know little about this
important technology. Here are some key factors and concepts
involved in the usage of solar power and panels.

1. Cost factors. The cost of a solar panel can vary widely; some people make their own, while others choose to buy pre-made panels and have them installed professionally. How much sunlight a panel can absorb, the efficiency at which it operates, etc., are all factors to consider when trying to save money and the environment. Here are some criteria that should be considered for cost-effective solar power:
   • Level of Sunlight: Obviously, the amount of solar power you can use depends on the amount and intensity of sunlight available. If you live in a place that has low levels of sunlight year-round, such as the Pacific Northwest region of the US, you may only get direct, sustained sunlight for a few days per year. This would make installing solar panels not as cost-effective. In order to get the most out of solar panels in places with low sunlight levels, you have to install more panels, and they should be powerful ones with a large energy storage and conversion capacity.
   • Size of Your Home: If you live in a smaller home with fewer rooms and appliances, you will find you get more use out of solar panels with a lower output level. Solar panels for a small to medium-sized home will cost anywhere between $500-$16,000, depending on the tech level of the panels. However, if your house is big, exceeding 5,000 square feet, you will have to shell out a significant sum of money, even if you opt for less-expensive solar panels.
   • Government Grants: The governments of some cities and states offer grants or tax incentives for installing solar panels. Check into these resources to see if you are eligible and take advantage of them if you are.
   • Technological Advances: Solar technology has become much more advanced over the last several years, in terms of overall cost and conversion/storage efficiency. There are also much wider arrays of choices in solar panel options, so you can use this buyer’s market to your advantage, to keep costs down.

   

2. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Panels
   Since solar power is renewable, safe, and pure, making it one of the most environmentally-friendly energy sources. It is free, but the cost of the panels themselves can be prohibitive in the eyes of many. Here are some pros and cons of solar energy/panels, to help guide your decision-making process whether to go solar or not.

Pros:

• Solar energy is produced by the sun, which makes it “free”—the only cost is to collect and transform it into usable energy. Once you have the panels installed, they can be used indefinitely, and the energy produced is completely free.
• Solar panels require little maintenance once installed, and can work efficiently for years without needing updates or changes.
• Solar panels remain efficient, even long-term: most solar panels will still operate at p to 90% of their original output, even after 20 years!
• Requires no work on your part to manufacture power, no wasting money on electric bills

Cons:

• Large houses need lots of panels to manufacture enough energy to make them cost effective to install.
• Solar energy only is accessible during the day, meaning your panels must also be efficient for storing the energy as well as receiving and converting it.
• All panels will have to be replaced after about 20-30 years; if you installed a bunch of them all at once, they will have to be replaced the same way, which can get very expensive.

Reflect on these issues and determine whether solar panels are a good investment for your home and situation. Although they can be expensive to purchase and install, there are alternatives to pre-manufactured panels. Although they are expensive up-front, they can easily work off the cost of their purchase an installation over the years. Technology is improving every day, but you do have to have some up-front capital to get started going solar. Consider all the options and make the best decision.

Active solar systems are becoming much more common these days. It is no longer unusual to drive past a home or business and see solar panels sitting in the yard or on the roof. Many people are wondering whether these systems are right for their home or business. Here is what you need to know in order to make that decision.

One factor that is not as important as you might think is how much sunlight a home or business receives during the day. Solar systems can store excess power in cells that are essentially large batteries. These provide a continuing source of power at night or during periods of inclement weather. Although you do not need to worry as much about how much sunlight your home or business receives there are some factors that you need to consider.

Where you will position the solar panels
While you may not need to worry as much about how much sunlight your home receives you do need to think about where you will place the solar panels. They can be quite efficient at extracting solar energy but they are still quite large and need an unobstructed area where they will be exposed to sunlight. In many cases this means installing the panels on the roof of a structure. If you have no room for solar panels then this system is not right for you.

Heating water or powering a home
You need to think about whether or not you want your solar system to heat your home or provide a source of electricity. Active solar systems can do either of these things but are not able to do both. This is because there are two types of solar panels. One is a photovoltaic cell that produces an electrical charge. This is then stored in batteries. The other type of panel has tubes that travel through it. They heat up liquid that is in the tubes and which is then used to heat a home or business.

Solar energy can be a fantastic way to keep your home at a comfortable temperature or to reduce the amount of electricity that you must buy. With hot water systems there may still be a need to supplement a home’s hot water supply especially in times when there is a long stretch of cold, inclement weather. In the end, however, using solar power will drastically reduce the amount of energy your home or business uses on a daily basis.

Many people like the idea of using solar energy to help reduce their home’s energy use. They tend to focus more on active solar systems when they think about how solar energy can help them make their home more eco friendly. Regardless of whether they are used to power a home or to heat water for heating systems, solar energy tends to equal solar panels for many people.

There is another form of solar energy that you can use in your home. It is passive solar energy. Instead of using solar panels to harness the sun’s energy, passive solar systems allow the sun to heat a home and provide lighting. If you are interested in finding out more about passive solar systems here is what you need to know.

How to utilize passive solar energy
Utilizing passive solar energy is quite simple. All you need to do is to install windows that are south facing in your home. This will allow the maximum amount of light into your home and will also allow the solar energy to heat the interior of your home as well. This is the basic principal of passive solar energy. The key is to use energy efficient windows that will not let heated air escape as quickly from your home.

Changes to your home may be needed
Some changes to your home may be necessary and some may be expensive. If you have a home that does not face south you may need to see if any of your windows do. If not you have the choice of either installing windows in the southern walls or working with a different type of energy efficient heating system.

You may want to ensure that your home has a sufficient amount of insulation so that it can retain heat as efficiently as possible. By doing so you can ensure that you are using the least amount of energy possible to keep your home heated. You also may want to check out the pricing on solar hot water heating panels. These can be quite affordable especially if you use a panel that has been reconditioned or put together from other existing pieces of solar paneling.

Another alternative is to use a heat pump in order to warm your home. This draws some of the heat that is naturally present in the soil and uses it to heat a home. It can be used in conjunction with other heating systems in order to keep a home warm without a massive ecological cost.

The use of solar panels in homes and businesses has become more popular than ever. The price of solar panels is now at a level where many home and business owners are able to afford them. In order to understand solar energy and why it is so popular, here is what you need to know.

Types of solar panels
Many people do not realize that there are two main types of solar panels. Both use the energy that is generated by the sun but they each use it in a different way. Photovoltaic panels, for example, use solar radiation in order to generate an electrical charge. This charge is then either used immediately by the home or is used to charge a power cell. This power cell is, in essence, a large battery that is capable of holding energy to be used at a later date. Because stored energy is available around the clock, there is no interruption of power for the home or office. Even if the weather is overcast or stormy, power can still be available for use.

The other type of solar panel system is also gaining in popularity. These symptoms allow water or a coolant to pass through the panel. The water or coolant is heated. In the case of hot water, that is then stored in a hot water tank until it is needed. If the system uses coolant, it then transfers its heat to the water in the tank. That water can then be used as a hot water supply for a home or business or it can be used as part of a radiant heating system.

What to consider next
Now that you know more about each type of solar panel, you can now decide which is right for you. Newer systems use technology such as vacuum tubes in order to work more efficiently. Because of this fact, many people find that a solar panel system will work even in areas where the sunlight is not as strong.

Are there rebates and savings available?
You may also want to look at whether there are any savings or rebate programs that exist in your area. Some governments are offering rebates or awards to homeowners who choose green home heating or power options. You need to find out as many details as possible and learn which options will give you the largest returns possible.

How to get started
If you want to start the process of moving to solar panels, speaking with a company that offers these products is a good first step. They may ask you questions about your home and your lifestyle. They will then be able to give you more personalized advice about which system will suit your needs the best.

They will often have a range of green technology items that may further your monetary savings while reducing the impact you have on the environment.

When someone thinks about solar energy, it is usually an active solar system that they are thinking of. These systems use the solar panels that many people are familiar with and can supply either hot water or the energy needed to power a home. A passive solar system can also be used effectively in a home but may be much more subtle than you might realize it would be. Here is what you need to know about these systems and how they can be used in your home.

How passive solar energy works in a home

Passive solar systems are just that- passive. Instead of actively collecting solar radiation and then using it as a source of heat or electricity, they passively use the light from the sun in order to light and heat a home. Instead of installing expensive solar panels in areas surrounding a home, they use the position of a home as well specific types of windows in order to raise the temperature of a home’s interior.

How to take advantage of passive solar radiation

It can be much more difficult to retrofit a home to take advantage of passive solar radiation. This is because much of what makes these systems effective is the actual positioning and orientation of a home. A passive solar home must have a large number of its windows facing south in order to let in light and heat as efficiently as possible. If a home does not have its windows facing south, it is much more difficult to take advantage of the ambient solar radiation.

A home must also be equipped with windows that do not allow a massive amount of heat loss. The idea behind passive solar systems is that the sunlight will stream in through the windows, heat and illuminate the interior of the home, and retain the heat through the use of energy efficient windows and insulation.

The advantage of passive solar in your home

A passive solar system can be much more affordable than an active solar system to install. It may require the installation of updated windows and the addition of insulation but both of these things can be added quite affordably. It may also not generate electricity or hot water the way that an active solar system may but it can, over time, help to reduce heating and electrical bills.

A qualified expert can look at your home or ask questions that will tell whether it is suitable to use a passive system in your home.

Thermomax systems, which are designed for extreme climates like Northern America,
are high efficiency equipment for efficient and economical conversion of solar
radiation into thermal energy.

The evacuated heat-pipe solar collector is the result of extensive research,
development and testing. This high performance, reliable and cost effective
solar modules use advanced technology and new materials.

Evacuated Tube Solar Collector of Thermomax offers the following features:

• High performance
• Low heat capacity and high heat transfer
• Heat flow  only in  one  direction
• Control of maximum temperature
• High durability
• Freedom from corrosion problems
• Freedom from cold weather/frost problems
• Low maintenance effort
• Easy installation of single or multiple units

All solar collector systems have the sun as common energy source. Therefore, the performance depends on the conversion of the solar radiation into useful thermal energy and to transfer it to the hot water system. The global solar radiation varies considerably from region to region and day to day. On a clear summer day approximately 850 W/m² can be expected while on a cloudy day it can reduce to 400W/m² or less, which means if the system utilizing solar energy is not efficient enough the system would be useful for only very bright days.

Due to the very good insulation properties of the evacuated solar tubes Thermomax collectors can provide hot water any time when there is sun light available. Evacuated collectors supply heat at temperatures significantly higher than those achieved by flat plate collectors. This comparison is particularly relevant in cold, windy and cloudy climates.

The first step to enjoy your Thermomax over a long period of time is to design and specify the collector size and the associated components correctly. In order to be able to do it, you would need to consult experts.

After installation, the system may need some very small checks. They are:

Periodic Checks

• Ensure that no physical damage has occurred to the tubes and remove any debris that may have accumulated.
• Check the flow and return pipework between collector and storage tank.
• Check all connections for leaks and ensure all components are operating correctly.
• Check that the system pressure is maintained at the set value. If the system pressure repeatedly drops below the set pressure check the system for leaks.

Five Yearly Checks

• If using antifreeze/inhibitor, every five years the system should be completely drained and flushed then refilled with new antifreeze/inhibitor.
• Check all insulation of pipework and the condition of the sensors, especially the manifold sensor.
• Check the seals where the flow and return connections pass through the roof tiles.

As you see, a Thermomax solar panel is easy to maintain, efficient and cost effective way for your hot water needs.

If you want to benefit from Thermomax Solar Collectors and services we offer contact us here.

Did you know that for regular household water heating costs are nearly one third of their fuel bills?
It is possible to cut this amount significantly using solar energy for heating water.

Solar water heaters work on the principle of absorbing the energy in sunlight through solar panels and use it to heat the water.
This hot water is then collected in a tank and used for your hot water needs.

Solar water heating systems vary depending on the technology, their location of installation
and means of circulating heat transfer fluid.

• Depending on the collector (panel) type they can be either flat-plate or evacuated tube collectors. Both systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. While flat-plate collectors are cheaper, evacuated tube collectors are more efficient. For this reason the choice would depend on your specific needs and budget. However, due to high efficiency of evacuated tube collectors the overall cost would be approximately the same.
• Collectors can be mounted on a roof and these are called on-roof systems.
  Sometimes it is possible to embed the collectors in the roof and these systems are called in-roof.
  Depending on space availability, some collectors are installed on the ground as standalone systems.
• Regardless of the collector type or location, heat absorbed from the sun is transferred to the water to be heated by means of a heat transfer fluid. If this fluid is circulated by pumps these systems are called active systems and if pumps are not used for fluid circulation those are passive systems.

Depending on the season you can save up to 70% of your water heating costs and 30% of your overall heating costs by solar water heaters.

It is possible to get hot water even in winter because solar water heating systems don’t need direct sunlight. They are able to convert even indirect sunlight to heat. So you will have the comfort of plenty of hot water for a very little cost even when the weather is overcast.

There are other advantages associated with solar water heating systems. They are:

• Reduced CO2 emissions
• Improved BER rating for your house, and increase in value of your house due to this

Quality is the most important point when choosing a solar water heater as they are intended for long-term use. What should be kept in mind while chosing a solar water heating system can be summarised as:

• It should be a system of recognised quality
• It should be a system designed by specialists so that your specific needs and conditions can be assesed in the best way
• Installation should be done by an expert installer with proper training and experience

If you are considering making the switch to solar power as a way of reducing energy costs, you may wonder whether passive solar or active solar systems will meet your needs best. Without understanding more about each of these systems and their applications it can be difficult to make that decision. Here is what you need to know.

All solar systems use the sun but they do it in different ways. Some may be used to provide heat for a home, others can provide a constant source of hot water. Still other systems can generate power so that a homeowner can reduce their energy bill and even go off grid in some cases. One thing that surprises many people is that these systems can be used in areas where sunlight is weak or intermittent. The key is to choosing a system that will work for your needs and the environment you live in.

Active Solar Power

These systems use solar panels to generate power or to heat water. They do require the installation of special panels and can be expensive in the beginning. Over time, the reduced costs that you will pay to heat or power your home will help defray the cost of the system. Because they use panels to actively harness solar energy, these systems are not dependent on the orientation of a home or the construction materials made to build that home.

Passive Solar Power

Passive solar systems rely on home orientation. This is the direction that a home faces. With passive solar systems, a home generally needs a southern orientation in order to take full advantage of sunlight in an area. Windows are positioned in the home in such a way that they let in the maximum amount of light and heat. Using windows and doors that are designed to prevent heat from escaping will mean that the home can be kept quite warm and that heating and lighting bills can be reduced.

Before deciding which system you want to install, you should consider what you want to use solar power to do. If you want to heat your home and it is positioned properly, you may find that a passive system will work best. If power generation is your goal or you have a home that does not have a southern orientation you may find that you will need to look at active solar power systems rather than passive systems.

Up to a few weeks back we knew only of a handful of processes to harness the immense sources of energy transmitted on to the earth surface. All forms of energy except perhaps nuclear energy, originated from the sun. (Sun it self is a huge nuclear reactor, come to think of it!) We have been converting this radiant energy to a form usable in a traditional application. But since time immemorial the most efficient conversion process has been photosynthesis by plant life with chlorophyll.

However much tried we have not been able so far to duplicate this seemingly simple chemical process.

However the latest news coming out from the  Swiss and US solar researchers labs is that a new process has been developed which uses Water, Carbon dioxide and solar energy, to duplicate photosynthesis in a way (though not exact). As you know Hydrogen is the most efficient combustible fuel known to man but hitherto has not been able to produce or store safely and economically. Though not an exact copy of photosynthesis, the new process at least to a certain extend mimic it and provide high energy fuel of Hydrogen along with Carbon monoxide as end products.

The Hydrogen is expected to be used in fuel cells or as Syngas along with the Carbon Monoxide produced.

The device

Millions of hectares of green vegetation covering the earth’s surface is our life blood. They provide energy, clean our atmosphere, provide Oxygen for us to breath, keep the surface soil bound and many other known and unknown benefits. Our present technology is not yet competent enough to provide all these to us.

The new system that  only partly mimic the natural process consists of a concentrated solar radiation collector, Porous Ceria (Cerium Oxide) lined vessel which is insulated with Alumina ( ie. the simple salt aluminium oxide), an inlet to the vessel interior for Carbon dioxide and water and an outlet at the bottom for hi efficiency fuels Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide. The metal oxide Ceria is a rare earth element but is about the commonest in nature in the series.

The Process

Metal Oxide Ceria is a salt with a peculiar property. It imbibes oxygen when it’s temperature rises and releases oxygen when cools down. What the new device does is that it absorbs the heat from the concentrated solar radiation which passes through the quartz cover of the device. Porous ceria lines the inner surface of the chamber to which CO₂ and Water is entered. The end products are Hydrogen and Carbon monoxide, both efficient fuels.

Currently the problem with Photovoltaic Solar panels and Thermal Solar panels is that they are static and the collected energy is difficult to transport or stored enmasse. The high efficient fuels of the new process earmarked for future environmentally friendly automobiles, air craft, industrial processes etc.  provide ways to store them close by outdoors as well as within the place/machine of usage.

Just like for any volatile fuel or chemical these high energy fuels too will have to be stored or transported with extreme caution and due safety measures observed.

It is expected that the new device will provide solutions for many a current problem experienced with renewable energy usages. The major draw back presently is the low efficiency of the device.  Swiss and US Scientists who are involved in this invention expect to have a break through in this regard soon.

Interestingly this machine can also be used to produce Methane too, another fuel whose energy content is less and easily adopted for domestic energy applications.

Hard times are on Ireland. Cash is hard to come by. Social welfare benefits and minimum wages will be reduced in an attempt to cut down the 2011 budget by Euro 6 bn, it is said. Only way for you to come out of the quagmire is to cut down your own wastages and improve the efficiency to optimize the usage of your earnings. The winter too is on you and imported fuel is going to take it’s toll. It’s time to think of going for indigenous sources of fuel sources and how to harness it with minimum expenditure.

Greener Homes Grant Scheme for awarding energy efficiency upgrading grants prescribes Solar Thermal type solar energy converters for home heating and domestic hot water applications. As you know, for such a system   you are entitled for grant of up to Euro 1,500 and Euro 1,800 for Flat Plate type thermal collectors and Evacuated Tube type thermal collectors respectively, (based on Euro 250/m² and Euro 300/m² respectively for up to a maximum of 6m² panel surface area).

Now, it becomes evident to you that there are two different technologies available in hot water systems to select .Which is the best suited for your requirements? What if your choice is the wrong one?

We give below an insight into the two different solar thermal panels to enable you be aware of where you stand.

Types of Solar Thermal panels

The two basic types of solar thermal panels as mentioned before are:

• Flat Panel Type
• Vacuum tube type

In addition there is another type incorporating semi conductors to entrap solar energy and known as PV panels which are integrated with Solar Thermal Panels in a hybrid design. This design primarily cools the PV semi-conductors while heating up the fluid in the Solar Thermal collector, serving dual purposes.

Flat Panel Type Solar Thermal Panels

This is the oldest design of the two and is also the most widely used in homes. It is very simple in design, construction and operation. Therefore they are economical too.

A quality Solar Thermal Flat Panel may basically comprise of*:

• Ultrasonic welded, selective surface coated copper plate Panel
• Low iron, tempered glass with 91% transmission certified to EN 572-5, EN 12150-1 or their equivalents.
• UV durable EPDM and silicone  enclosure sealing against water
• One piece, channel type glazing gaskets with moulded corners against water penetration
• Electro statically black coated  all Aluminium collector cases
• CE certified high density Rockwool Insulation
• Flexible connections for ease of installation
• Back sealing provided by clamps and silicone
• Air vent holes to prevent internal condensation
• Back plate of embossed aluminium sheet.
• Special black coloured (for better absorption of solar heat) glass wool wall insulation

As you see the components are uncomplicated and simple.

Evacuated Type Solar Thermal Panels

In contrast these panels are more complex but are more efficient, durable, longer lasting and more reliable. Interestingly evacuated type solar thermal panels can provide heat energy during all seasons and cold, wet and windy conditions. (This is achieved by the low thermal losses provided by the vacuum of 10 _-6 in the collector tubes).

This eliminates two of the three ways heat energy is lost, namely conduction, convection and radiation. The elimination of the conduction and convection makes it possible for the tubes to make use of low levels of diffused radiation. Evacuated type Solar Thermal Panel is also highly efficient.

They can also therefore be adopted for domestic central heating systems.

The evacuated tubes are made of special glass which gives it good transmissibility with low reflection losses. They are highly durable too. As a consequence they are also relatively more expensive.

The high solar energy absorption of evacuated tube solar thermal panels is achieved by the use of an absorber which consists of absorber plates coated with a special high efficiency selective coating which enable maximum solar radiation absorption and minimum loss  of thermal radiation.*

Whatever may be your selection for your home hot water and space heating needs, approximately 70% of the annual fuel need may be shared by a solar thermal panel installation in your home.(The balance  small portion will be provided by a conventional fuel or electricity using heaters). Best part is you will receive the solar thermal energy virtually at no cost to you or the country. Additionally the Greener Homes Grant will ease your initial investment too. Keep it in mind even in the low solar intensity

and snowy winter too up to 30% of home hot water needs can be shared by a solar thermal installation.

*The given data are based on Kingspan Marvel Flat Panels and Thermomax solar vacuum collectors the pioneer and premium product.

For further information on Greener Homes Grant scheme, the sizing and costing of a solar thermal installation, how much it will save you by way of fuel costs etc. please  contact Greentech.ie on call save 1890 245345 for a free consultation. You may also contact Kinggroup.ie on call save 045 838376 should you require more information on Thermomax or Kingspan solar thermal panels.