How to Build a Solar Panel

by hastyhost in solar

Currently I'm a college student studying computer engineering, and this summer while I was on break I decided I wanted to learn more about solar energy and how to build a solar panel from scratch. My main reason for looking to build it myself was to learn how it all worked, and the next reason was due to the price of a commercially built solar panel.  

So, you'll learn how to build a 63 watt solar system in this instructable with free videos to help you get started. I know I'm a visual learner, so hopefully most find this very helpful.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Build-A-Solar-Panel/

SOLAR EDUCATION FOR KIDS AND TEENS

Bill Nye the Science Guy compares renewable and non-renewable energy sources and explains the importance of clean power. 

How energy from the sun in the form of photons is soaked up by solar panels and transformed into clean electricity

‘From sand to solar’ – how leading panel manufacturer REC makes its solar modules

It would take far less than 1% of the Earth’s land area covered in solar panels to supply all of the world’s electricity needs.

A solar panel can work for decades. Some installed in the 1970’s are still generating electricity .

Wind is a form of solar power, created by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface.

https://www.energymatters.com.au/education/solar-kids-teens/

What is Solar Energy and How Do Solar Panels Work?

By: Martin DeBono   October 25th, 2017

Our sun is a natural nuclear reactor. It releases tiny packets of energy called photons, which travel the 93 million miles from the sun to Earth in about 8.5 minutes. Every hour, enough photons impact our planet to generate enough solar energy to theoretically satisfy global energy needs for an entire year.

https://us.sunpower.com/blog/2017/10/25/how-does-solar-energy-work/

Solar energy works by capturing the sun’s energy and turning it into electricity for your home or business.

Scientists Channel Tesla & Einstein To Invent New Double-Glazed Solar Panel

December 9th, 2017 by Steve Hanley 

Dr. Gavin Bell and Dr. Yorck Ramachers are researchers in the physics department at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England. They recognized that conventional photovoltaic solar panel technology has reached a practical limit when it comes to improving efficiency and lowering manufacturing costs. 

So, the pair went back to the research and writings of Nikola Tesla and Albert Einstein to see if the work those pioneers did could point the way to a better panel design. At present, a solar panel relies on a vacuum between the outer surface and the solar cells inside. What if, Bell and Ramachers asked themselves, they used a gas like argon to fill that space? 

https://cleantechnica.com/2017/12/09/scientists-channel-tesla-einstein-invent-new-double-glazed-solar-panel/

ComEd announces recipients of solar pipeline training program grants

By Kelsey Misbrener | December 7, 2017

Today, on the one-year anniversary the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), ComEd announced four organizations have been selected to develop and conduct solar pipeline training programs made possible through grants funded by FEJA. Elevate Energy, Illinois Central College, OAI and the Safer Foundation, will receive a total of $3 million as a part of the first wave of FEJA funding to train individuals to work in the solar industry.

“ComEd is committed to helping grow renewable energy in Illinois and equally dedicated to developing the workforce of the future who will help integrate more clean energy like solar, into the Illinois energy grid,” said Anne Pramaggiore, ComEd president and CEO.

CEO.https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/12/comed-solar-job-training-grants/

Solar Powered Smart Palm Trees

Solar Powered Palm Tree Stations have started providing beaches with free wireless internet, charge phones and make announcements.  These Solar Powered Palm Tree Stations can also display updates on events and activities and serve as a public announcement system.   They also show beach rules, guidelines, tips, and sea conditions.

https://wordlesstech.com/solar-powered-smart-palm-trees/

Each Smart Palm runs entirely on its own solar power source
and lights up at night for an aesthetic look.

Unlimited Solar Energy from the Ocean?

In the late 1800’s, the French physicist Jacques Arsene d’Arsonval proposed a method for generating electricity using the sea as a giant solar-energy collector. It is considered that the technology, termed “Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion” (OTEC), may enable the establishment of an efficient energy storage system across the world, supplying enough energy for our entire planet.

A team of British architects, including Dominic Michaelis, Alex Michaelis, and Trevor Cooper-Chadwick, are currently working on a project they hope will bring the century-old idea back to life.

http://thefutureofthings.com/3359-unlimited-solar-energy-from-the-ocean/

SOLAR POWER BRIGHTENS CORPORATE AMERICA'S BALANCE SHEET

You may not know if the  Target or Walmart  store you're shopping at has solar, but if it does, it's saving the company money. And today, U.S. corporations are installing solar energy rapidly as a way to save millions of dollars.  Target led the way with 147.5 MW, with 70 MW installed so far in 2016, while Walmart is using 145.0 MW. Apple 's 93.9 MW and Costco 's 50.7 MW means those companies are also among the top five installers.

http://www.newsweek.com/corporate-america-embraces-solar-energy-bottom-line-514546?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=yahoo_news&utm_campaign=rss-related&utm_content=/rss/yahoous/news

Solar Customer Resource Portal

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) provides consumers the tools they need to make an informed decision of whether and how to go solar. Take a look at our consumer resources to learn about your options for going solar, what to look for in an offer, questions to ask a solar company, your rights, and more.

http://www.seia.org/policy/consumer-protection/solar-customer-resource-portal

Sunlight-powered purifier could clean water for the impoverished

One-tenth of the world’s population lacks clean water. Now, researchers report they have developed a cheap solar still, which uses sunlight to purify dirty water up to four times faster than a current commercial version.   The technology will “allow people to generate their own drinking water much like they generate their own power via solar panels on their house roof".

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/02/sunlight-powered-purifier-could-clean-water-impoverished

Get competing solar quotes online

Over one million people use EnergySage each year to research and shop for a solar installation through their network of pre-screened installers.  Simple as 1-2-3!   1)  Register online to get quotes for your address.   2) Pre-screened installers submit quotes online.  3) Compare the quotes online and pick the best quote for you to start saving money with Solar Energy!!

https://www.energysage.com/

Las Vegas runs COMPLETELY on renewable energy

From street lights to city parks, community centers and fire stations, all Las Vegas city-run spots are now powered entirely by renewable energy, making it the largest in the U.S. to use such sources. "We are now one of the few cities of the world that can say all the power we use comes from a green source," the city announced.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/12/21/las-vegas-renewable-energy/95706450/

World's Largest Floating Solar Plant built over former Coal Mine

The world’s largest floating solar power plant is now online in China. The 40MW plant is now afloat in water four to 10 meters deep, and successfully linked to China’s grid. The placement was chosen in large part because the area was previously the location of coal mining operations; and, as a result, the water there is now mineralized and mostly useless. The lake itself was only formed after years of mining operations, the surrounding land collapsed and created a cavity that was filled with rainwater.

https://futurism.com/the-worlds-largest-floating-solar-plant-is-finally-online/

Solar energy is really our only answer for long-term sustainable energy

Humans consume 221 tonnes of coal, 1,066 barrels of oil, and 93,000 metric cubes of natural gas every second.

Sooner or later humanity needs to get its head around the fact that the only long-term sustainable energy solution is solar energy.

The theoretical potential of solar power is 89 terawatts, which represents more energy striking the Earth’s surface in 90 minutes than the worldwide energy consumption for the entire year from all other resources combined.

https://qz.com/987397/solar-power-is-the-only-answer-to-africas-electricity-problem/

Solar Energy Basics

Solar is the Latin word for sun—a powerful source of energy that can be used to heat, cool, and light our homes and businesses. That's because more energy from the sun falls on the earth in one hour than is used by everyone in the world in one year.

https://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/re-solar.html

Click on the above link to find out more about:

Solar Photovoltaic Technology --
These technologies convert sunlight directly into electricity to power homes and businesses.

Concentrating Solar Power --
These technologies harness heat from the sun to provide electricity for large power stations.

Solar Process Heat --
These technologies use solar energy to heat or cool commercial and industrial buildings.

Passive Solar Technology --
From the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: these technologies harness heat from the sun to warm our homes and businesses in winter.

Solar Water Heating --
From the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: these technologies harness heat from the sun to provide hot water for homes and businesses.

And Additional Resources!

Tools for consumers and designers of solar

Calculation of sun’s position in the sky for each location on the earth at any time of day.
... and a lot more useful tools!

https://www.sunearthtools.com/dp/tools/pos_sun.php?lang=en

Search allows you to enter the following as an example:

   # Address (example: Central Park West, New York), (example: Macquarie St, Circular Quay NSW 2000, Australia)
   # Geographic features (example: torre di pisa) (example: louvre)
   # Places - Cities, towns, states, provinces, states and continents (example: Berlin, Germany)
   # Coordinates (example: 41.38716 , 2.17010), (example: -34° 36’ 43.56" -58° 24’ 3.6" ), (example: 41° 53’ 24.72" N 12° 29’ 32.64" E)

Ten Solar Energy Facts and Charts

As prices have dropped, installations have skyrocketed.

https://cleantechnica.com/2016/08/17/10-solar-energy-facts-charts-everyone-know/

Solar Software Platform Fast-Tracks Grid Connections

When customers install solar, their panels don’t start producing electricity right away—a utility must first assess the project’s impact on the electricity grid before it gives permission to flip the switch.

The GridUnity platform conducts automated studies that leverage advanced power flow algorithms, cloud computing, and machine learning.   The platform enables utility engineers and support personnel to focus on reviewing results rather than generating costly, time-consuming simulations. 

The platform can speed the impact study step from 55 days to just 60 minutes, reducing the total interconnection process from 81 days to hours—that’s 98% faster than the processes used by most utilities today. 

https://energy.gov/eere/success-stories/articles/eere-success-story-solar-software-platform-fast-tracks-grid

Five Common Anti-Solar Talking Points

Solar Subsidies, Environmental Impact and “True Cost”… Who is Right?  A lot of questions are posed, but if the answer is not to the questioners liking, it is SO easy to find another answer that comfortably fits within their reality tunnel.

http://solartribune.com/clarifying-five-common-anti-solar-talking-points/

Atlanta Commits to 100% Renewable Energy

Another city has committed to sourcing all its energy from renewables. This time it’s Atlanta, the largest southern city in the US to make such a commitment, and the first in Georgia. It joins 25 other cities that have committed to 100 percent renewable energy, seven of which have already realized that goal and comes as The Sierra Club launches the Mayors For 100% Clean Energy campaign.

https://solarreviews.com/news/atlanta-100percent-clean-energy-mayors-for-100percent-launches-050317/

Portable Electric Vehicle Charging Station fits into a parking spot!

The 9 foot by 16 foot EV charger can be moved to different locations, deployed in minutes and fits in a parking spot. Due to its off-grid portability, the charging station does not require permits and  certified electricians for installation or the need to build a foundation and dig electrical connection trenches.

https://solarreviews.com/news/new-york-installs-portable-solar-ev-charging-station-buffalo-050317/

Google to achieve 100% renewable energy in 2017

“Operating our business in an environmentally sustainable way has been a core value from the beginning, and we’re always working on new ideas to make sustainability a reality — like enabling the building of healthy workplaces and creating a living, breathing dashboard for the planet.  From the solar panels on our roofs to our bike-to-work program, these initiatives sit at the heart of our company culture and help both us and our users reduce our impact on the environment,” Hölzle said.

http://www.cleanenergynews.co.uk/news/solar/google-to-achieve-100-renewable-energy-in-2017

Device pulls water from dry air, powered only by the sun

Imagine a future in which every home has an appliance that pulls all the water the household needs out of the air, even in dry or desert climates, using only the power of the sun.

That future may be around the corner, with the demonstration this week of a water harvester that uses only ambient sunlight to pull liters of water out of the air each day in conditions as low as 20 percent humidity, a level common in arid areas.

http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/04/13/device-pulls-water-from-dry-air-powered-only-by-the-sun/

Why Farms Are Choosing Solar Power

Insulate yourself against rising energy costs in the future. Instead of remaining vulnerable to ever-increasing price of energy, solar provides farmers with a reliable, cost-effective energy solution.

No change in your current system. Grid-connected solar panels integrate into your current electrical system seamlessly so in most cases there is no need for extensive or expensive modifications. 

There's a video on the site for more information:

https://www.paradisesolarenergy.com/who-uses-solar-energy/agriculture/

How to Make Electricity in a Disused Coal Mine

A coal-mine that powered German industry for almost half a century will get a new lease on life when it’s turned into a giant battery that stores excess solar and wind energy.  The town of Bottrop, where people worked the 600 meter (1,969 foot) deep mine since 1974, will keep playing a role in providing uninterrupted power for the country, she said.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-17/german-coal-mine-to-be-reborn-as-giant-pumped-hydropower-battery

Source: University of Duisburg-Essen

How Solar Energy Will Help Alleviate 21st Century Energy Poverty

According to the World Health Organization, 1.1 billion people do not have access to electricity while 3 billion people use solid fuels such as wood, charcoal, coal, and dung for cooking and heating.
... in coming decades, experts see solar energy becoming the cheapest source of energy in nearly all markets and locations because photovoltaic panels don’t need to be connected to the world’s rapidly aging and fragile electricity grid in order to provide electricity to end-users.

http://www.industrytap.com/solar-energy-will-help-alleviate-21st-century-energy-poverty/41833

Why convert carbon dioxide and water into renewable fuel using Solar Power?

Conventional renewables cannot yet accommodate large-scale generation of transportation fuel. One of the most promising avenues for the transformation of a current transportation economy lies in the discovery and harnessing of novel routes in the large-scale generation of renewable hydrocarbon fuels.

http://solarfuelshub.org/why-solar-fuels

Free Photovoltaic software and calculators!

Free Solar photovoltaic software.
Inverters software for photovoltaic (PV) system design.
AC and DC electrical wire voltage drop and energy losses online calculator .
Sun position calculation, sun time, and others.
How to calculate the annual solar energy output of a photovoltaic system.
Financial Analysis of Photovoltaic systems.
And More!

http://www.photovoltaic-software.com/free.php

Free software for the Renewable Energy Industry!

The System Advisor Model (SAM) is a performance and financial model designed to facilitate decision making for people involved in the renewable energy industry:

• Project managers and engineers
• Policy analysts
• Technology developers
• Researchers

SAM makes performance predictions and cost of energy estimates for grid-connected power projects based on installation and operating costs and system design parameters that you specify as inputs to the model.  SAM's performance models make hour-by-hour calculations of a power system's electric output, generating a set of 8,760 hourly values that represent the system's electricity production over a single year.   SAM is available for free download.

https://sam.nrel.gov/

Professional football installs sustainable energy in stadiums across the country

Professional football touches almost every segment of American culture. Over the past three years, NRG has worked with stadiums across the country to install sustainable technologies that engage and educate consumers on their energy choices and encourage them to get off the sidelines and into the game.

http://www.nrg.com/news/executive-blog/post/nrgs-ticket-to-stadium-sustainability

Innovative Aggregation Expands Access to Large-scale Renewables

This week, the largest renewable energy project built in the U.S. through an alliance of diverse buyers reached commercial operation. The buyers aggregated their demand and negotiated as a group to capture large-scale cost economics. Each buyer entered into their own power purchase agreement (PPA) for a share of the renewable output from Summit Farms.

No capital investment was required from any of the buyers.

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2017/03/innovative-aggregation-expands-access-to-large-scale-renewables.html

Bright future for solar energy in the north

Many Nordic regions have potentials for exploiting solar energy matching that of the solar giant Germany.“We’ve heard earfuls about how Norway isn’t suited for solar energy. That isn’t necessarily true,” says Espen Olsen, associate professor at the Norwegian University of Life Science (UMB).
“Large regions of the Nordic countries are really quite suitable for solar energy. It’s old news for us. It’s in the textbooks, but it isn’t well enough known outside our profession,” he asserts.

 http://sciencenordic.com/bright-future-solar-energy-north

A Renewable Energy Journey in the Pacific

The pursuit of high penetration of renewable energy in the Pacific involves good planning and skilled navigation to stay safe and on course, and holds the promise of rich rewards.  

Throughout the Pacific, island communities are embracing ambitious renewable energy targets, many as high as 100 percent over the next decade or two. 

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/print/volume-20/issue-2/features/solar/a-renewable-energy-journey-in-the-pacific.html

Tesla Teams With Tiny Hawaiian Utility to Store Solar

A 33,000-member electric power cooperative on the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian archipelago is emerging as a leader as it moves from fossil-based power generation to renewables, and deploys what ranks as one of the world’s largest arrays of lithium-ion battery packs. Under terms of the deal with Tesla, KIUC will buy power for 20 years at the rate of 13.9 cents per kilowatt-hour (KWh).

http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/renewables/tesla-teams-with-tiny-hawaiian-utility-to-store-solar

Google: 4 out of 5 US homes have solar power potential

Project Sunroof has checked the viability of 60 million US rooftops.  A five kilowatt rooftop solar installation now costs just $12,500 on average after tax credits, and pretty soon, installing one might soon be a matter of re-tiling your roof. 

https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/15/google-4-out-of-5-us-homes-have-solar-power-potential/

Greenhouse roof generates solar power while allowing sunlight to pass through to plants below

The greenhouse will serve as a laboratory to probe the solar energy production, plant growth and costs of growing food in such systems.  By controlling climate, water use and plant nutrition, greenhouses can produce food using a fraction of the land and water when compared with traditional field agriculture

http://www.pe.com/articles/power-827258-building-translucent.html

Can Australia Teach the US Real Estate Market How to Value Solar?

The leading real estate site in Australia, Realestate.com.au (3 million visitors a month), has been using an Energy Score since late 2015 that provides prospective buyers and tenants an idea of how energy efficient listed homes are or if they included a solar system.

Below is a sample score for a property...

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/ugc/articles/2017/02/24/can-australia-teach-the-us-real-estate-market-how-to-value-solar.html

The impact of these standard practices in real estate transactions has been profound, and the U.S. could benefit from similar standards.

Australia launches the world's first digital energy marketplace for rooftop solar

Pilot program will allow homeowners to tap into a network of ‘virtual’ power stations made up of smart grids of rooftop solar and batteries.   

This has led to a shift away from thinking of households solely as energy consumers towards them being viewed as active participants in the grid.

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/feb/23/australian-consortium-launches-world-first-digital-energy-marketplace-for-rooftop-solar

 

Pueblo, Colorado commits to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy.

Cities like Pueblo and Moab have long suffered the consequences of dirty energy and utility reliance on fossil fuels. Pueblo, for example, has a sizable low-income population that has been suffering from the high cost of electricity due to the local utilities’ decision to build new gas infrastructure and saddle the cost with ratepayers. More than 7,000 people in Pueblo have had their electricity shut off due to the high cost of electricity.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/02/moab-pueblo-commit-100-renewable-energy/

Solar Panels on TOP of parking garages for Space Savings and Protection for top-floor parkers!

The garage top market is a growing segment in the solar carport market. This is due in part to the appeal of using space that cannot be redeveloped, as opposed to a ground parking lot or greenfield.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2014/07/solar-parking-garages-qa-solaire-generation/

China builds world's biggest solar farm in journey to become green superpower

“It’s big! Yeah! Big!” Gu Bin, one of the engineers responsible for building the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park in the western province of Qinghai, enthused with a heavy dose of understatement during a rare tour of the mega-project.    The remote, 27-square-kilometre solar farm tops an ever-expanding roll call of supersized symbols that underline China’s determination to transform itself from climate villain to green superpower.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/19/china-builds-worlds-biggest-solar-farm-in-journey-to-become-green-superpower

Coal country is becoming increasingly fertile solar ground

January 3, 2017  Community solar is coming to Appalachia, an area of the country traditionally fueled by  nearby coal mines.  Columbus, Ohio-based Buckeye Power will cut the ribbon Thursday on the third project involved in its plans to install 2.1 MW of community solar to the region.

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2017/01/03/community-solar-comes-to-coal-country/

Solar Panel efficiency is usually NOT THE RIGHT QUESTION TO ASK.

One of the most common things people ask when they start to consider going solar or start to plan their life-changing solar expedition is which are the most efficient solar panels.  The important matter is not which solar panels are most efficient, but which solar panels are the best value for the money.
(But also take a look at the differing opinions in the comments section).

https://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/02/which-solar-panels-most-efficient/