Alternative Energy Tutorials on Energy Articles

Measuring the Power of a Solar Panel

Measuring the output power of a solar panel, cell or array gives a better understanding of the systems power performance. One of the main disadvantages of solar panels as a renewable energy device is their lack of output power when there is no sun. The performance of photovoltaic solar panels can be determined by measuring the relationship between the panels voltage, current, and therefore power output under different meteorological conditions to determine the exact amount of electrical power available from a particular solar panel

Understanding batteries and how we can use them in an off-grid or stand alone photovoltaic storage system is important for ensuring a long service life. Batteries convert chemical energy into electrical energy and vice versa, so deciding on what battery to use, or how many batteries you will need, depends on the power and capacity requirements of your solar energy application as well as what kind of deep-discharge and recharge cycling rate the batteries will be subjected to.

Low pressure micro hydro power scheme is another type of hydropower technology which uses low-pressure, low-head turbines to generate electricity without the need for dams or water impoundment. Micro hydro power is another renewable energy source with a low environmental impact and having several advantages over the use of fossil fuels as it is a non-polluting, renewable resource causing minimal environmental disruption to both the river and the native ecology.

Bypass diodes are a must for any photovoltaic solar panel as they protect the panel from overheating when shaded by trees, leaves or debris. When one solar cell of a panel becomes shaded while the other solar cells around it are illuminated by sunlight, hot spots can be created leading to overheating and eventual destruction of the affected shaded cell. A bypass diode is commonly placed on sub-strings of the photovoltaic panel usually one diode per 15 to 20 photovoltaic cells to maintain the load current delivery of the panel

DIY solar power systems do not have to be large home built constructions as there are plently of plug ‘n’ play home solar kits available for all sorts of applications. Designing your diy solar power kit or system requires you to make a few decisions first, such as, do I want a grid-connected or an off-grid connected system, do I want or need storage batteries as part of my system, and what are my energy requirements or daily consumption. Making solar generation from a diy kit a reality helps reduce the amount of electricity you pull from the utility grid

Energy saving tips are always a good idea as it can help you to be more energy efficient reducing your energy bills. But energy saving isn’t about not turning on your heating, or cooling systems, its about using what you have in more efficient ways. Simple energy saving tips such as turn off lights not being used, Replace conventional light bulbs with efficient light bulbs, use the winter sunlight to heat your home and keep it out in the summer, clean or replace old filters and insulation, all are simple can do energy saving tips to help you reduce your energy costs

Wind power and the environment continues to be a discusion as we use the renewable energy sources available within the environment to power our lives. While wind power is a clean, sustainable and accepted alternative to burning fossil fuels, the environmental imapact of wind power on wildlife and their natural habitats must be taken into consideration when siting a new wind farm. Wind farms built for the production of electricity have the potential to impact the natural and urban environment affecting birds, bats and other fauna and flora at a specific site

Greenhouse gases is the generalised term used for products that have the potential to polute the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorocarbons. The driving forces behind greenhouse gas emissions is our increased energy use through burning fossil fuels for heating, transportation or energy production. The impacts of climate change due to human activity is one of the main driving forces behind greenhouse gas emissions and the need for climate change

Global warming and the environmental impacts of global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions and human activities could increase the planets average global temperature by upto 1.5 degsC within the coming years. Already the planet is experiencing temperature and weather extremes as well as droughts and haeavy rains. Sea levels will continue to rise as both artic and antartic ice sheets melt flooding low lands as a result of global warming

Carbon capture and storage is a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously meeting the growing energy demand around our planet. Capturing carbon dioxide and other such harmful gases is not a new technology but may be a viable way of decarbonising the atmosphere from gases and pollutants and storing them in suitable underground geological formations for permanent storage

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Alternative Energy Tutorials on Energy Articles

Measuring the Power of a Solar Panel

Understanding Batteries

Low Pressure Micro Hydro Power

Bypass Diode

DIY Solar Power System

Energy Saving Tips

Wind Power and the Environment

Greenhouse Gases

Global Warming

Carbon Capture and Storage