In a time when we’re constantly hearing about how our natural resources are getting depleted, solar panel systems are something that gets a lot of attention. Our awareness about renewable energy sources indeed needs to increase by a lot, but for some reason, people are still not taking this very seriously.
We’re not trying to scare anyone off by saying this, but when it comes to saving our planet, we need to act with urgency because we’re on the brink of many disasters. One of the easiest yet very effective measures that we can take is implementing solar panels to replace electricity.
Our planet is blessed with the light and warmth of the Sun, so why don’t we use what we’re offered to the fullest extent?
In this article, we’re going to talk about solar panels, what they are and how they function, so if you are interested in learning some more, make sure to continue reading until the end.
What are solar panels?
Many people already know about this, but if you happen to be someone who never heard about solar panels before, nor about about solar panels uk government grants, worry not, we’re here to explain.
Solar Panels are considered to be one of the best innovations that we know of. They are larger items that can be placed on top of your home, or anywhere else where the sun can reach them, and they convert the sunlight into electrical energy which can be used for anything that you want.
When they first came out, people were pretty fascinated by the idea of having a renewable energy source, but they weren’t as efficient as the ones we have today, which is an even better reason to consider using them. Click here to learn more about how renewable energy companies can benefit you.
How do they function?
When you place a solar panel on the roof of your home, as soon as the sun comes up, the panel starts absorbing the photons. What happens next is where things start to get pretty interesting. Every solar panel has conductors and silicon part which can convert the sunlight into Direct Current, or simply said, electricity. After the conversion is complete, the electricity flows inside the inverter.
Since the electricity that we have so far is DC, not AC, there’s still some work that needs to be done before we can use it for our daily needs. The inverter has a role of converting DC to AC, and after we get our alternating current, we can start using it for anything that we want. Anything that’s not used goes back into the grid. Pretty simple, right?
Although silicon by itself is not a very conductive material, the type of silicon found in these panels is not the purest type that you can find, and it is coated with an anti-reflective material to prevent the sunlight, or should we say the photons from bouncing away.
If no such coating is used, all of the photons will just bounce away instead of getting “stored” in the panel, simply put, because silicon is very reflective and shiny by nature.
Now, you’re probably wondering what happens on days when the sun is blocked by clouds. Well, you always have the option to “buy” some electricity from your nearest provider, but that happens rarely and isn’t something that you need to be concerned about.
So why is this considered to be the savior?
The population on our planet is constantly increasing by a lot, but that’s not the case with our natural resources such as fossil fuels and oil. While we constantly get more people on Earth, the resources are slowly getting depleted, and if we don’t do anything about it, we will soon get to a point where life will be endangered.
Luckily, solar panels can change that, but only if more people learn about them and understand the benefits of using them. Sure, it’s an investment that might seem a bit “too much” at first, but it will pay off after just a couple of years, and then you’re left with free natural and renewable energy.
Many countries across the world are slowly adopting the usage of renewable energy, so instead of investing money in the depletion of our Earth’s resources, they build more windmills and solar panels. If we all work together, we can save the planet while it’s still time. You can see more if you are interested in other useful information about this topic.
It doesn’t have to be “boring”
If you’ve ever wanted a swimming pool or a hot tube in your home as an upgrade, you can power them basically for free if you have a solar panel installed. Imagine always having warm water in your swimming pool, even during winter.
That would really cost you a lot if you were to do it with another source of electricity, but with the panels, all you need is a clear sky and you’re completely set for the day.
After your initial investment pays back, all of the extra energy that you’re getting can be used for many interesting and fun things. You’ll already have more than enough for your basic things such as lights in your home and hot water, so feel free to use the rest for anything else, such as powering up a few hot tubs.
They are very durable
If you are currently wondering whether it is worth to invest in solar panels because you’re questioning their durability, we’re here to convince you. According to statistics, these panels can last an entire lifetime, and you won’t have to change them in the near future.
As for maintenance, they require no maintenance except maybe washing them every couple of months, but even that is not needed.
Governments offer to fund
If you let your state know that you want to upgrade to a renewable energy source, they will offer some kind of financial help if you can’t purchase the panels by yourself.
Numerous campaigns and actions are going on in almost every country because the awareness is slowly rising to a point where people will start feeling “guilty” for using any other energy sources rather than the renewable ones.
