Solar Power Basics (A Comprehensive Beginner’s Guide)

For those who are still thinking about adopting the solar technology, I hope the information shared in this guide will prove to be useful. I took a small leap of faith, and just a small solar setup has reduced my bills… Very satisfying, and you can do the same too.

https://red-dot-geek.com/solar-power-basics/

Do you want Clean Solar Energy but you are a renter or have a shaded roof?

Community Solar gives access to solar power for renters and those with shaded roofs.
Click on the link below for more information!

https://www.comed.com/SmartEnergy/MyGreenPowerConnection/Pages/CommunitySolar.aspx

Are solar panels on your roof beautiful?:

“Look at your electric bill,” he said. “I think that makes them beautiful.”

(Click on the link below for the full article).

https://www.nwherald.com/lists/2019/10/09/56492eac534c463a9e5170e4fb8a7387/index.xml?page=1

Solar power popularity growing in Illinois, despite obstacles

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-solar-power-boom-in-illinois-20190906-hzn4psuv7jd2dond35zkrtxx6y-story.html

Illinois began providing subsidies under a new state law, the Future Energy Jobs Act, or FEJA.

With state and federal tax subsidies available currently, and with production costs coming down, home solar projects have become cheaper and increasingly popular. ComEd estimated that the number of its solar customers more than doubled this year to about 4,500 — most of them residential customers.

To estimate the cost of installing a rooftop solar system on a home, ComEd created a cost calculator at www.comed.com/solar.

What is Solar as a Service?

Solar as a Service lets you buy clean, affordable solar power that is generated on your roof by solar panels that Sunrun owns and manages. We provide the solar panels, the installation, and the maintenance of all the solar panels, and you purchase the solar power produced just like you would normally purchase energy from a local utility company.

https://www.sunrun.com/go-solar-center/solar-terms/definition/power-purchase-agreement

Solar United Neighbors is a non-profit organization that helps people and communities go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights. As part of this mission, we work to promote the benefits of solar around the country.

We come from all walks of life. We’re from urban centers, small towns, farms, and everywhere in between. We’re young couples and retirees, small business owners and farmers. We’re conservative and liberal, and sometimes fiercely independent.

https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/about-us/vision-mission/

50 Interesting Facts to Know About Solar Energy

Following is a few of the facts.  Click on the link below for more.

Solar power is one of the cleanest, most sustainable, and most renewable resources in the world.

Solar panels can improve future air quality for humans as well as the millions of birds, fish, and mammals that are negatively affected by pollution each year.  

Most solar panels have a 25-year warranty, and if you rent or lease, most companies provide free maintenance.

https://www.solarpowerauthority.com/50-facts-about-solar-power/

How much less efficient are north-facing solar modules?

Sometimes the south-facing rooftop just isn’t fit for solar, like for example tree shade, or a taller building on the south side of your building.  So, just how bad is it to put solar panels on a north-facing roof?  You might be pleasantly surprised that your north-facing roof can still be productive!  The link below explains that sunlight reaches the north-facing roof from the glow of the blue sky: 

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2016/06/much-less-efficient-north-facing-solar-modules/

Want to build a sustainable future?  

“We are focusing on telling the narrative of the global ongoing energy transition, aiming to educate, inform, and raise awareness amongst those who care to build a sustainable future.” – Anne-Sophie Garrigou, Editor-in-Chief

 Want to contribute?

We’re always looking for new content ideas to keep the magazine as fresh as possible. If you want to share your voice, contact our Editor-In-Chief Anne-Sophie Garrigou at as.garrigou@the-beam.com with a 100 words pitch for your story (title, subtitle, and extract).

More info?  Click link below:

https://the-beam.com/about/

Solar’s 20 most overlooked benefits

Solar projects have the potential to improve air, water and soil resources in addition to producing clean energy.

Read more in the following link...

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2019/07/31/solars-20-most-overlooked-benefits-for-global-sustainability/

THE SOLARIZE GUIDEBOOK:

A community guide to collective purchasing of residential PV systems

Overwhelmed with where to start to make a Community Solar Farm?  Click the link below!

https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/54738.pdf

A 5-minute video on how Solar Panels convert Solar Energy into electricity.  Very Clever!

https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-solar-panels-work-richard-komp

Four reasons to consider a Solar Carport

1) Your roof may not have enough space for your energy needs. Solar Carports can be customized in size.

2) Your roof may not be facing the Sun properly or has tree shade.  Solar Carports have more customized orientation flexibility.

3) Solar Carports don’t use extra land and they give some weather protection to your vehicle!

4) You can claim the Federal Solar Tax Credit for you Solar Carport!!

For more detailed information, click on the link below:

https://www.solarpowerrocks.com/community-solar/why-you-should-consider-a-solar-carport/

Why a Big Utility Is Embracing Wind and Solar

Electric Utilities can now build renewable energy plants and operate the new plants for less money than it would have to pay just to keep running its old power plants.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/opinion/utility-embracing-wind-solar.html

The Village of Brookfield has been named a solar-friendly community

On Jan. 5, the Village of Brookfield was notified it had been designated as a SolSmart community for enacting policies that support installation of solar energy projects. SolSmart is a U.S. Department of Energy program that encourages local governments to enact policies that promote solar development, streamline their approval and increase local solar investment.

http://www.rblandmark.com/News/Articles/1-30-2018/Brookfield-named-a-solar_friendly-community/

The Tesla roof: when will it be available and should you wait for it?

For those asking themselves, “should I wait for the Tesla solar roof?”, you are not alone.   Here’s everything you should consider before making your decision, including what Tesla roof rivals you should consider...
https://news.energysage.com/should-i-wait-for-tesla-solar-roof/

What are the most efficient solar panels on the market?

For those looking for the most efficient solar panels for their PV system, the first thing you need to know is how to compare efficiency metrics for different manufacturer brands.   In practical terms, for two solar panels of the same physical size, if one has a 21% efficiency rating and the other has a 14% efficiency rating, the 21% efficient panel will produce 50% more kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity under the same conditions as the 14% efficient panel.

https://news.energysage.com/what-are-the-most-efficient-solar-panels-on-the-market/

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.