Solar panels are active solar devices that convert sunlight into electricity. Solar panels come in a variety of rectangular shapes and are usually installed in combination to produce electricity. The primary component of a solar panel is the solar cells, or photovoltaic cell. This is the key component that converts sunlight into electricity.
At the present time about 80% of all solar panels are made from crystalline silicon (i.e. monocrystalline, polycrystalline, amorphous silicon, or hybrids) solar cells. Typically the solar cells are laid out in a grid pattern – with perhaps as many as 72 different solar cells. The other 20% consist primarily of solar cells made mostly from Cadmium Telluride and a small but growing amount from CIGS. The appeal of these types of cells is their low cost resulting from the fact they can be made in large single sheets. There is a lot of research going on in the industry to develop more efficient and lower cost solar panels. The solar panels, after usually after being hermetically sealed to protect them are covered in a non-reflective glass to protect the solar cells from environmental damage and placed into a rigid frame. Typically, the frame is designed to prevent it from deforming due to freezing weather or strong winds. The frame will usually include a drainage hole to help prevent water buildup on the panels, which can reduce output. The back of the panel is also sealed to prevent damage. This is typically where the junction box is located.
Solar blinds are emerging as a perfect window treatment. More and more population is accepting solar blinds as alternative to those traditional curtains.
The amount of power solar panels produce is influenced by the amount of sunlight falling on your specific location per year, the efficiency of the underlying solar cell technology, the materials and technology used in making the solar panel, keeping your panels clean, and the amount of time the solar panel has been in use. They require a significant cash outlay (they can also be financed) and provide a return on investment of 5 to 10%, depending on where you live and the rebates and tax incentives that are available. They can be analyzed as an investment because they can be expected to last 25 years or more.
An additional financial benefit of solar panels is the increase in value they provide for your home. The typical improvement in home value is figured at about $20 for every $1 saved in electricity cost. Thus, if you install a 4 kilowatt system that saves just $800 in electricity cost per year, you can add about $16,000 to the value of your home. Of course, this is a negotiated amount, but there is a strong argument for the increased value: any new owner would benefit from the lower electricity costs. According to this analysis, the value of your home increases by an amount almost exactly equal to the cost of the solar panels after rebates and tax credits. On top of that, you earn a 5-10% return. These two factors make the installation of solar panels worthwhile financially as well as environmentally.
Solar Rebate
At the present time about 80% of all solar panels are made from crystalline silicon (i.e. monocrystalline, polycrystalline, amorphous silicon, or hybrids) solar cells. Typically the solar cells are laid out in a grid pattern – with perhaps as many as 72 different solar cells. The other 20% consist primarily of solar cells made mostly from Cadmium Telluride and a small but growing amount from CIGS. The appeal of these types of cells is their low cost resulting from the fact they can be made in large single sheets. There is a lot of research going on in the industry to develop more efficient and lower cost solar panels. The solar panels, after usually after being hermetically sealed to protect them are covered in a non-reflective glass to protect the solar cells from environmental damage and placed into a rigid frame. Typically, the frame is designed to prevent it from deforming due to freezing weather or strong winds. The frame will usually include a drainage hole to help prevent water buildup on the panels, which can reduce output. The back of the panel is also sealed to prevent damage. This is typically where the junction box is located.
Solar blinds are emerging as a perfect window treatment. More and more population is accepting solar blinds as alternative to those traditional curtains.
The amount of power solar panels produce is influenced by the amount of sunlight falling on your specific location per year, the efficiency of the underlying solar cell technology, the materials and technology used in making the solar panel, keeping your panels clean, and the amount of time the solar panel has been in use. They require a significant cash outlay (they can also be financed) and provide a return on investment of 5 to 10%, depending on where you live and the rebates and tax incentives that are available. They can be analyzed as an investment because they can be expected to last 25 years or more.
An additional financial benefit of solar panels is the increase in value they provide for your home. The typical improvement in home value is figured at about $20 for every $1 saved in electricity cost. Thus, if you install a 4 kilowatt system that saves just $800 in electricity cost per year, you can add about $16,000 to the value of your home. Of course, this is a negotiated amount, but there is a strong argument for the increased value: any new owner would benefit from the lower electricity costs. According to this analysis, the value of your home increases by an amount almost exactly equal to the cost of the solar panels after rebates and tax credits. On top of that, you earn a 5-10% return. These two factors make the installation of solar panels worthwhile financially as well as environmentally.
Solar Rebate
