Solar

The phrase 'you can't manage what you don't measure' is a good introduction to why proper energy metering is a crucial step for an efficient energy management system to work successfully. If you want to save money by decreasing your energy bills with the help of proper energy management, you will have to collect data. This data will tell you more about your household's profile in terms of energy consumption.

Energy metering is more than just a tool that allows electricity suppliers to provide their customers with bills at the end of each billing period. Traditional energy metering devices have to be supplemented with a smart energy meter combined with data loggers, and a proper gateway which set up all together allows the successful withdrawal of the data. This is the foundation of the next step - the energy management system.

Without the right hardware and its configuration meeting the requirements of a particular household's energy profile, it would be impossible to establish the right strategy eventually leading to significant savings on the energy bills.

Net energy metering (also referred to as NEM) is a billing mechanism that allows a customer to store the energy generated by their solar system in the electric grid. This approach lets the consumers use this energy when their solar panels are underproducing by withdrawing it from the energy company at a reduced rate.

Utility companies allow their customers, who produce energy with solar systems, to store their excess in a Virtual Energy Storage System (VESS). This is a tool, which lets them combine that factor with the energy consumption in the net metering. It lets customers store the produced energy in the form of a credit to be used when their household is not producing it.

The amount of energy in the Virtual Energy Storage System is calculated on a monthly interval. At the end of a month, the amount of credits is reset and can be build up again over the next month period. This allows customers to use the power generated from their solar system during the day, at night when the sun goes down.

The credit of the produced solar energy is stored for 12 months. At the end of that period, the amount of the energy stored in the grid is lost and the calculation of the credits resets. This approach allows a customer to use the surplus of solar energy generated over summer during less sunny winter months (withdraw the energy).

Current is defined as an organized movement of electrons through the electrical conductor or space. Each electron carries a certain charge. The movement is caused by a potential difference. It seems complicated but, it’s not. Let’s suppose that we have a waterfall where water falls from a higher level (higher potential) to a lower level (lower potential). The movement of water is caused by a height difference (potential difference) and it continues until the water from the lower level equals the water from the higher level. The same goes for electron movement, it last until the balance is attained. However, unlike water, in this case, the potential difference is not the height difference, but the voltage. Current flows from a higher electrical potential to a lower one. The unit of current is the ampere [A].

The mentioned voltage is responsible for the force of current flow. The voltage is expressed in volts [V].  The combination of voltage and current gives us energy.  We can not forget about resistance which disrupts the flow of current. The unit of current is the Ohm [Ω].

AC stands for alternating current. We have DC and AC electricity. Direct current (DC) refers to systems in which the movement of electrons goes in one direction and is unchangeable over time, which results in constant current and voltage. In alternating current, both voltage and current change their direction and magnitude with time. These changes are characterised by a sinusoid, which is shown in the figure above. The sinusoid is described by the amplitude - the largest value of a quantity varying periodically and wave cycle - time between occurrences of the same phase of the oscillation.

AC current is created in power plants by generators and then it is supplied to our houses and flats. As we can see in the diagram, as the magnitude is changing with time, it takes positive and negatives values periodically. That's why we need to introduce the concept of effective values. It is a statical measure of a periodically varying signal.

The most important parameters of alternating current are voltage and frequency. Voltage has been described above, but what is frequency? It is a number of wave cycles that occur per second. Both voltage and frequency values are described by effective parameters.

The parameters of the current in sockets:

• Voltage 120 [V]
• Frequency 60 [Hz]

AC compared to DC can be easily converted to and from high voltages by using transformers. This provides AC with an advantage well above DC in the field of power distribution and contributes to lower energy losses.

Solar panels or solar modules are most frequently made of silicon solar cells. Their quantity and configuration in the module determine its size. Individual solar cells are around 6" x 6" (or 15 [cm] x 15 [cm]) squares.

The most common solar cell layouts are:

• 60 cells (6 x 10 layout)
• 72 cells (6 x 12 layout)

The 72 cell modules are usually 1" (30 cm) taller than 60 cell modules. Additionally, 72 cell modules produce more power than 60 cell modules.

• 39" x 66"

or

• 1.0 m x 1.7 m

• 39" x 77"

or

• 1.0 m x 2.0 m

Half-cut cell modules are made of the same solar cells but they are cut into halves to reduce their resistance. This allows them to produce more power. In this case, the 120 cell modules have the same dimensions as the 60 cell modules, and the 144 cell modules have the same dimensions as the 72 cell modules.

Solar (photovoltaics) cells are small electrical devices that can convert the energy from solar radiation into usable electrical energy. You can think of them as modules, which a solar panel on your roof consists of. They are connected in a specific way to obtain desirable electrical parameters of the photovoltaics panel, such as voltage, current and power. They produce direct current (DC), which later can be used to power various DC devices such as LED lighting and mobile phone batteries, or can be converted to alternate current (AC) by solar inverters and used in households.

Solar cells are most commonly made with silicon which is doped with various elements such as selenium or germanium to increase their efficiency. Depending on the silicon structure we can divide solar cells into three main types:

• mono-crystalline
• poly-crystalline
• amorphous

In mono-crystalline cells, silicon atoms create just one uniform crystalline structure. They are the most efficient solar cells on the present market, but also the most expensive ones. They are the most common types of solar cells used in the energy industry.

Poly-crystalline solar cells consist of many different smaller silicon crystals which are connected to each other. Their efficiency is slightly lower than in the mono-crystalline cells.

Amorphous cells are the least efficient, although the cheapest solar cells out of the most commonly used. The silicon within the amorphous cells does not form crystalline structures.

The basic components of a solar cell are two semiconductors – a positive (p-type) and a negative (n-type) one. On top of the cell, there is a negative electrode that holds negative charges and on the bottom of the cell, there is a positive electrode that holds positive charges.

Solar cells work on the principle of a phenomenon called the photovoltaic effect. In simple words, when light strikes the solar cell, it gets absorbed into the structure causing electrons in the cell to move from the crystalline structure of the semiconductor to the top negative electrode. The electron holes (positively charged “holes” which form when the electron leaves its place) move to the bottom positive electrode. This results in a potential (charges) difference between the top and the bottom of the cell which is called voltage. After connecting both of the electrodes to a DC device, an electric current starts running through the connected wires powering up the connected device.

The ITC, Solar Investment Tax Credit, is very important to the U.S. solar industry and has helped it grow significantly. It is THE federal policy mechanism in the solar sector. The growth of the solar industry has had a positive impact on the American economy and has created hundreds of thousands of jobs. Nevertheless, the ITC will be reduced in the near future – although the positive figures speak for themselves.

If you install solar on your roof – as an individual person or company – you get tax credits. This means that the amount that would actually be paid as income tax to the federal government is reduced. Currently, the ITC is a tax credit of 26 percent for a solar system (on residential under Section 25D and on commercial properties under Section 48). Due to this solar ITC, the U.S. solar industry has grown over 10,000 per cent since its introduction in 2006.

With the turn of the year, however, changes are on the agenda: The previous 26 percent will decrease by 4 percent to 22 percent in 2023. In 2024, the tax credit will be discontinued. Solar ITS has supported the United States in approaching green energy and renewable energies. Nevertheless, solar energy accounts for only 2.7 % of energy production in the United States so far. Reducing the tax advantages now seems to be a step in the wrong direction.

Contact us if you want to switch to solar energy!

The future is looking bright with solar energy! Solar power projects are growing and becoming more and more attractive to consumers for a variety of reasons. One is that solar energy is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. But that is most likely how far your knowledge goes. We have outlined here some interesting facts you probably didn’t know about solar!

Solar power starts with solar energy being produced through the conversion of sunlight into electrical energy. This is done through photovoltaic (PV) panels for example. Solar energy is the most unlimited energy source amongst other renewables. The Earth is hit by 173,000 terawatts of solar energy continuously. That is equivalent to more than 10,000 times the world’s total energy use. Solar energy is completely renewable and has 5 billion more years to be utilized. The US Department of Energy found that the power acquired in one and a half hours of sunlight is more energy than the entire world consumes in one year. The total amount of energy used by humans every year is 410 quintillion Joules. In comparison, 430 quintillion Joules of energy are produced every hour and a half the sun strikes the Earth. This data tells us that we essentially have a source of unlimited clean energy. 

Although solar energy requires soft costs such as permitting and installation, the consumer will receive a return on their investment due to low operating costs. In 2019, homeowners observed break-even points as low as three to four years. Some homeowners also generated huge savings, which ranged between USD 10,000 and USD 30,000 over 20 years. The unstoppable rise in technologies and scientific research has significantly pushed back solar costs and increased efficiency. For instance, in 1977, the price of a simple solar cell was $77 per watt and fell considerably to $0.74 per watt in 2013. The average price to install solar has also decreased by more than 70% between the years 2010 and 2017. Costs are continuing to decline as companies are increasingly taking economic advantage of using solar energy.  

Currently, about 42% of global coal power plants are unprofitable because of high fuel costs. Studies predict that this number can go up to 72% by 2040 with pollution policies driving up expenses. The United States could save USD 78 billion by closing plants in line with the Paris Agreement. It is more expensive to run 35% of coal power plants than to set up renewable infrastructure. Adopting renewable energy practices such as solar is necessary for moving forward and pursuing economic gain.  

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one of the fastest-growing occupations in the US is solar PV installer, with a projected growth rate o 51% from 2019-2029. This rate is much faster than any other average in other occupations. As of February 2020, there are more than 250,000 solar workers in the United States. Projections show that this figure is to increase to 270,000 by the end of the year. Since 2010, solar jobs in the United States have increased by almost 160%. This figure is 9 times the national average job growth rate in the last 5 years. 

Projections show that a solar-powered household can reduce 100 tons of carbon dioxide, 0.5 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 0.75 tons of nitrogen oxides within 28 years! A United States household uses on average 830 kWh of electricity every month. Producing 1,000 kWh of solar-powered electricity cuts down on emissions by almost 1,400 pounds of carbon dioxide, 8 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 5 pounds of nitrogen oxides. Solar energy is a sustainable energy investment that provides vast environmental benefits for the collective good. 

A common concern for households or businesses considering going solar is “what happens on a cloudy or rainy day?” Photovoltaic panels can use either direct or indirect sunlight to produce power. When clouds are blocking the light, these panels still function accordingly. Solar production is less, but it is not at zero. Rain is neither a concern because it helps the systems operations by washing away dirt from the panels.  

Solar panels continue to work effectively during the winter times. Impressively, the cold temperatures and snow can help solar panel output. This is because the snow helps reflect light, which in turns improves PV performance. Find out more about solar system productivity in winter here. 

Solar energy is used at night thanks to two solutions: net metering and solar-plus-storage technology. These solutions allow consumers to have access to overnight electricity when there is no sunlight to produce energy. When you produce excess power through your solar panels, net metering allows you to feed the energy back to the grid.  You will then receive a reward with credits that are added to your electric bill by the utility. The grid connection to your home ensures you will still have power regardless of the solar panel production levels. 

Solar panels have a long lifetime that lasts about 25–30 years. They are reliable and durable mainly because they do not have moving parts, which makes the likelihood of damage or breakage very minimal. In fact, because of their design, the infrastructure of the solar panels after their lifetime still provides economic value as they can be replaced at low costs. Solar panels can be recycled using specific industrial processes. Research has shown that solar panel recycling processes have up to 96% efficiency.  Find out more on solar panelling recycling here.

Solar energy use is not only used for household and business electricity purposes. Solar energy is used for transportation as well. In the 1960s, the space industry started powering spacecraft with solar technology. The aviation industry has also started adopting solar technology. In 2016, two pilots completed the first-ever circumnavigation of the globe without using any fuel. The famous solar aircraft, Solar Impulse II, flew a total of 40,000km in the pursuit of promoting renewable energy use and energy efficiency. The Round-The-World flight team effectively overcame technical and operational challenges, which provided an inspiring example behind the boundless potential of renewables. This was the beginning of a new era that demonstrated the reliability and strong potential of shifting to renewable sources of energy.  

The solar industry is booming, and with it, there are growing concerns about the waste it produces. Fear not! We want to assure you that solar panels can be environmentally friendly and recycled! Much research and development are focused on improving the efficiency of solar panels. Conversations on the topic of recycling solar panels are particularly uncommon. In this article, we tell you all you need to know about solar panel recycling.

In 2012, the European Union included PV components under the ten categories of the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive. Thus, solar PV elements must be collected and recycled. The waste management regulations require that all solar panels must be dealt with and manufacturers of PV panels who supply to the European market must pay a recycling fee. The US does fall behind Europe in its waste management policies, however, the state of California (one of the largest solar markets) in the past has proposed supervision and control of the processing of solar equipment.  

The research revolved around solar panels needs to be more focused on managing waste. There is evidence of economic, social, and environmental benefits with recycling solar panels. More effective policy planning and research must take place to reap the environmental benefits of solar systems.  

With over 20 years of experience in the solar energy industry, Enlighten.energy is committed to helping you go solar. Contact us if you have any questions!

It’s 106 degrees Fahrenheit outside and all of the sudden, the air conditioner and fans in your house begin to power down. What do you do?

One of the benefits of solar systems is energy independence. Energy independence means to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, petroleum, and imported oil, and increase our necessity for clean energy, such as solar energy. This will help contribute to better stability economically, politically, and environmentally. Installing solar panels on your roof is one way to achieve energy independence on an individual level. On a national level, installing solar panels on everyone’s roofs is bringing America to absolute energy independence.

The renewable energy source brings independence to individual users. Solar panels are more valuable to the market when electricity rates continue to rise. Buyers save themselves from high rates by investing in a solar system. The distributed energy generation systems allow buyers to have energy independence since they are dependent on their own electricity source. More specifically, being solar energy independent means knowing exactly where your power is coming from. Having a battery backup system allows buyers to be protected from blackouts because PV panels provide energy stability. Also, the distributed energy generation systems allow buyers to have complete control of their electricity. Purchasers do not worry about any increasing utility rates. In other words, the independent energy market is less volatile than the dependent energy market. Finally, solar is a form of renewable energy, meaning that you can take advantage of the sun’s unlimited resource.