The Benefits, Costs, Savings and Maintenance of Solar Electricity - Term Paper Example

Table of Contents Table of Contents The Benefits of Solar Electri 2 How do Solar Panel (PV) Cells Work? 4 Costs, Savings and Maintenance 5 Conclusion 6 References 7 Solar Energy The world has been struggling with a power crisis and owing to this many individuals are looking for ways to rise above this issue (DeGunther, 2011:4). The major way to overcome this problem is opting for the use of alternative sources of energy. Alternative sources of energy are renewable sources of energy that are clean and free. Solar energy is one of the renewable sources of energy. Solar energy is used in generating electricity and can be used for providing power in businesses and homes. However, the use of solar power in buildings is a relatively new concept as there are many people that are unaware of the benefits of solar power. Some of the advantages of solar power are ease in installation and repairs, long life, saves energy, pollution free and viability in remote and isolated areas. The Benefits of Solar Electricity One of the main advantages of solar power is that it facilitates energy saving. Solar energy generates electricity through the use of photovoltaic mechanism or heat. This energy can be used for various purposes at home including cooking and heating water. What is important is that solar energy is available when the sun shines thereby solar cells absorb solar energy when the sun shines and converts it to electricity for various uses. In so doing, energy is saved and on the other hand, solar energy is free (DeGunther, 2011:45). This energy is then distributed in the form of heat. Homes and other buildings can be designed and constructed in a way that is possible to collect, distribute and store heat. Solar power systems have battery backups that ensure that energy is stored in the absence of sunlight. This shows that solar power promotes energy saving and homes and in offices. Solar energy is free of pollution. This is because it does not emit green house gases and ensures that the air in the surrounding is clean. Exploitation of solar energy can be beneficial to the environment in various ways. It substitutes the fuel the fuel that is mainly used in power stations thereby minimisation air and environmental pollution. It minimises the usage of oil and other forms of fuel that can be put to more important uses (DeGunther, 2011:5). Solar energy is not only renewable but also sustainable meaning that its supply will never run out. By replacing the use of nuclear fuel, it cuts down on the radiation threat as well as solar energy generators make the environment safer by reducing reliance on uninterrupted supply of power. Solar power helps slow down global warming. Increased global warming is harmful to the human race and animals. Solar systems ensure generation of electricity with no global warming effects. Generation of solar energy requires minimal maintenance since once it has been installed and it is working effectively only a limited amount is required annual to check on whether they are working effectively. Solar power energy saves households money. By simply installing solar PV panels on the roof of building on saves a lot of money. Solar power saves the public billions of dollars (DeGunther, 2011:7). Asides form threatening the existence of human and animal life, global warming costs society huge sums of money is left unattended to. Finally, solar energy provides reliability, independence and security (DeGunther, 2011:27). The appearance on the sun is a daily occurrence and this makes solar power a consistent source of energy. Asides from the energy boost that is provided by solar power, it also offers the advantage of energy independence. Furthermore, solar power cannot be monopolised and it is free for use by all people. Once one has a solar panel on their roof top, they have an independent source of energy. The same goes for companies, cities, states and society at large. With regards to energy security, sunlight is available for use by all people on a daily basis and this coupled with the simplicity associated with power energy makes it one of the main benefits. Solar power can also be used in remote and isolated areas unlike other sources of power such as hydroelectric power that requires installation of power lines. How do Solar Panel (PV) Cells Work? The solar system works in a complex manner but this can be put in a simple manner. The solar system works by allowing particles of light that are referred to as photons to remove electrons from atoms creating a flow of power (Dhar, 2013). Solar panels are made up of numerous smaller components that are termed to as photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaic simply refers to the change of light into electrical power. Loads of these cells are then combined to create a solar panel. The photovoltaic cells are made of two layers of silicon that is the semi-conducting substance that is known as silicon which is the same material that is used in microelectronics. For photovoltaic cells to work, an electric field should be established. This is similar to a magnetic field that is created between two opposite poles; an electric field is generated once the opposite charges are split. In order to create this field, manufacturers mix silicon with other substances and this gives the slices opposite electrical charge (Dhar, 2013). The manufacturers use phosphorous in the upper layer of silicon and this increases the number of electrons on that side with a negative charge. On the other hand, they use boron on the other side which results to generation of electrons with a positive charge. This leads to the creation of an electric field at the meeting point between the two layers. Other components convert these electrons into usable electricity and transfer them through wires into points of use. Costs, Savings and Maintenance The costs of installing solar PV systems have declined considerable over the past few years. On average, the cost of a solar PV system is 4kWp ranges from £6,000 to £9,000 (Energy Saving Trust, 2014). It is important to note that these costs differ across various products and installers. There are other factors that influence the installation costs of solar systems Energy Saving Trust, 2014). To start with, larger systems save more costs than smaller systems. Secondly, solar panels that that are built on roof tops are more expensive than the ones that are placed on roof tops (Energy Saving Trust, 2014). Thirdly, the more power a system can produce, the more expansive it is but could save more costs in the long-run. Finally, PV panels are approximately the same price; however, PV tiles are more expensive than a characteristic system that is composed of panels. A 4kWp solar system produces nearly 3,700 kilowatt hours of power annually Energy Saving Trust, 2014). This is a sufficient amount of power for the power needs of a usual home. Furthermore, it cuts down on the carbon dioxide emission annually. Additionally, if the system is qualified for the Feed-In Tariff scheme it could create income and savings of nearly £770 annually (Energy Saving Trust, 2014). Individuals will be getting paid for the power that they create and use if they apply for the scheme on a timely basis. When applying for this scheme, individuals will be required to show proof of their property and this influences the amount and nature of tariff that they will get. Solar PV requires minimal maintenance since all one needs is to clean the solar panels clean and ensure that the vegetation around the building does not form a shadow above them. In the UK, slanted at 15° to ensure enhanced performance and additionally, the panels can be cleaned by rain water (Energy Saving Trust, 2014). Dust and debris are more likely to collect in solar panels that are mounted on the ground. Debris, dust, bird droppings and snow should be removed by using some form of detergent and warm water. Those solar panels that have been installed too high above the ground should be cleaned using a high pressure hose or a brush. Individuals are advised to be cautious if they are working on a ladder. On the other hand, there are a number of companies that specialise in window cleaning services and can clean a solar panel for a minimal cost of £30 depending on the type, location and sie (Energy Saving Trust, 2014). These companies make use of a water fed pole technology therefore do not need a ladder or brushes. Once the solar PV panel has been mounted the installing company should leave their information in case any maintenance and repairs are needed and for regular checks. This should be composed of the important trouble shooting guide and information of the major inverter fault signals. If possible, the installer should clearly indicate the handover point. Users are advised to keep a close eye on the amount of power that is being produced while taking the weather conditions into consideration, in so doing, they can notice a malfunction. Once installed, these panels can last up to twenty five years; however, they can be replaced once at a cost of £1,000. Conclusion To sum up, solar energy is one of the best solutions to the current power crisis. This is owing to the fact that solar has numerous benefits such as energy saving, increased reliability, consistency and independence, minimises pollution and requires minimal costs and maintenance. Owing to this reason, households, offices, counties and states should install solar panels to attain the above-mentioned benefits. References DeGunther, R. (2011) Solar power your home for dummies, John Wiley & Sons. Dhar, M. (2013) How do solar panels work? Viewed May 10, 2014 from . Energy Saving Trust (2014) Advantages & disadvantages of solar power, viewed May 10, 2014 from . Read More