Do solar panels only work during day time?
Yes. Solar panels work with the same raw material than
plants, the solar irradiation. That is why they work
only during day light, even under cloudy conditions.
Indeed, if a photovoltaic module is exposed to an
artificial light, it will also produce electricity. The
only thing that really prevents a photovoltaic panel to
produce electricity is darkness.
The light of the sun consists both of direct light and
indirect or diffuse light (which is the light that has
been scattered by dust and water particles in the
atmosphere). Photovoltaic cells not only use the direct
component of the light, but also produce electricity
when the sky is overcast. It is a common misconception
that photovoltaic only operates in direct sunshine and
is therefore not suitable for use in temperate climates.
This is not correct: photovoltaic makes use of diffuse
solar radiation as well as direct sunlight.
The greater the available solar resource, the higher the
electricity generation potential. A photovoltaic module
exposed to the sun at midday by clear sky will produce
the maximum of its output electricity.
How much electricity does a Photovoltaic system
produce?
The electricity production of a photovoltaic system
depends on external (environmental conditions) and
internal (technology, layout of the system) parameters.
For example, the size of the photovoltaic system, the
orientation of the solar modules towards the sun, the
inclination of the roof, the climate zone and the
effects (or not) of any shadows.
In Colombia, a typical solar installation of 2 Kw peak
of output power can produce between 2.500-3.000 Kwh of
electricity per year. As a reference, the average
household in Colombia consumes 1.700 Kwh of electricity
per annum.
What is the difference between thermal solar energy
and Photovoltaic solar energy?
The radiant energy of the sun can be converted into
other forms of energy, such as heat or electricity.
The photovoltaic solar energy system converts sunlight
directly into electric power to run lighting or electric
appliances. A photovoltaic system requires only daylight
(direct and indirect sunlight) to generate electricity.
The solar thermal energy system generates and produces
heat. This energy can be used to heat water or air in
buildings or in many other applications.
How do I use the electricity that is produced by the
photovoltaic solar panels?
Everything is automatic. Switching on the TV or a light
bulb keeps on working as always. The electricity
produced by the solar panels is taken first by the so
called inverter, which conditions the electric flow to
be properly used by all our electric appliances.
How many solar panels does a typical house need?
The annual average electricity consumption per household
in Colombia is 1.700 Kwh. To produce this volume of
electricity and be fully independent from the
electricity retailer (depending clearly on various
factors like location, solar irradiation available, etc)
a photovoltaic project of 1,5-2,0 kW peak of output
power would be needed. This in turn is associated with
an installable area of 20-25 m2, which implies between 6
and 10 solar panels.
What is the best orientation for the solar panels?
Due to Colombia´s geographical location being very close
to the Equator line, the orientation of the panels is
less relevant than it is for those living in the
northern or southern hemispheres. This is because sun
light reaches Colombia much more vertical with less
inclination.
Generally, to get the most from solar panels they should
point in the direction that captures the most sun. Solar
panels should always face south if you are in the
northern hemisphere, or north if you are in the southern
hemisphere. The most important aspect is that solar
panels should not be exposed to shadows as these can
negatively affect the panels and would produce much less
electricity.
How heavy is each solar panel?
Approximately 20 kilograms.
What is the size of each solar panel?
1,65 meters tall and 1,0 meter wide.
What guarantee terms are offered by América
Fotovoltaica?
While the specific details of the guarantees applicable
to you will be provided in writing when you confirm and
accept the terms of the installation, find below some
common terms:
- Solar modules: 10-year product
guarantee on manufacturing-related material and
workmanship defects.
- Power output guarantee: 25-year power output
guarantee on photovoltaic modules ranging from 96%
on year 1 to 80% in year 25. This means an 80% of
the initial minimum output power is still guaranteed
after 25 years.
- Inverter: 5-year product guarantee on
manufacturing-related material and workmanship
defects.
Do I need any type of permit to
complete the photovoltaic project in Colombia?
No, at the moment no permit is needed.
How long would it take for the solar project to be
installed?
Between 5 and 7 working days. If the stock of solar
components was insufficient, the import process would
typically take 3 – 4 weeks. Installation time depends on the
size and actual surface where the panels will be
installed.
Can I install the panels myself?
No. Solar project installations should be handled by
professionals.
What maintenance is needed on solar panels?
Almost nothing. The best approach is to conduct a visual
check every year to ensure all modules are in good
condition. Additionally, it is recommended to clean the
panels with water occasionally to remove dirt which can
negatively affect its efficiency ratio.
Is a solar installation safe?
Yes it is. A photovoltaic installation is extremely
quiet, and does not emit any gases. The cables are kept
tidy and are covered to avoid any type of friction. The
inverter must also be covered.
What is the lifetime of a photovoltaic system?
The estimated lifetime of a solar module is 30 years.
Furthermore, the modules' performance is very high
providing over 80% of the initial power after 25 years
which makes photovoltaic a very reliable technology in
the long term.
In general, most manufacturers propose performance
guarantees on the modules after 20 years of 80% of the
initial output power. But this doesn't mean that a
photovoltaic system doesn't produce energy after 20/25
years. Most solar systems installed more than 25 years
ago still produce energy today.
What does grid parity mean?
For consumers, it means photovoltaic electricity becomes
cheaper than the retail electricity price. In light of
the decreasing solar electricity generation costs and
increasing price for conventional electricity, solar
systems will become more and more competitive. During
the next 5-10 years solar electricity will become
cheaper for private households than conventional
electricity purchased from the traditional distribution
utility. Grid parity is being reached progressively from
2010 onwards in some European markets.
While the costs of conventionally generated electricity
have constantly increased in recent years and - faced
with finite resources - will continue to increase by a
considerable extent, the cost of solar energy has
dropped by an average of 10% per year.
What is an inverter?
When sunlight strikes a photovoltaic cell, direct
current electricity is generated. An inverter is a
device which converts direct current to alternating
current electricity. Moreover, an inverter is required
to connect a photovoltaic system to the power grid.
What is a charge controller?
Solar charge controllers regulate the flow of
electricity from the photovoltaic panels to the
batteries. This is important because batteries must be
protected from overcharging and be maintained at optimum
conditions.
What is the convention Watt / hour?
Wh (watt-hour) is a measure of electricity use (or
generation) over time.
What is the difference between Watts and Watts per
Hour?
The watt, defined as one joule per second, measures the
rate of energy conversion or transfer. Solar electricity
systems are given a rating in kilowatts peak (Kwp). This
is essentially the rate at which it generates energy at
peak performance for example at noon on a sunny day.
The total amount of electricity the system actually
generates in a year is measured in kilowatt hours (Kwh).
This will depend on the system’s orientation, shading
and how sunny your site is, as well as the size of the
system in Kwp.
The kilowatt is equal to one thousand watts.
The megawatt is equal to one million watts.
The gigawatt is equal to one billion watts, or the same
as 1000 megawatts.
The terawatt is equal to one 1000000 megawatts.
What is the difference between nominal and peak power?
Peak power is also referred to as "nominal power" by
most manufacturers. Since it is based on measurements
under optimum conditions, the peak power is not the same
as the power under actual radiation conditions.
|
