Skip to main content

Posts

How to build a solar power plant

As the global demand of electricity is increasing day by day, the necessity of establishing power plants is also increasing. Besides establishing conventional energy sources like oil, gas and coal based power plants, non-conventional energy sources like solar based power plants are also establishing gradually. Ground mounted solar power plants require feasibility, environmental assessment, grid connection, siting etc. which is typical for a large industrial project. Implementing a solar power plant project requires comparatively more time than a rooftop residential solar installation. 

Countries having subsidy program like tax rebates, feed in tariffs etc. implement solar farms. Due to availability of solar panel, solar inverters and installation expertise, building a solar power plant is quite convenient at present. On the other hand, the permits and regulations for building a solar power plant or a solar farm vary from country to country and region to region based on federal and stat…
32 comments
Keep Reading
Recent posts

Challenges in solar power generation

One of the most promising renewable energy technologies is solar power which allows generating electricity from free, unlimited sunlight. It’s one of the rapid growth industry and technology which contributes significantly to homeowners and commercial industry. It would be a reasonable and useful solution for new power generation installations in developing countries to be powered by carbon emission free sources like solar.  Solar seems perfect for countries with lots of sun exposure and no efficient way of bringing the conventional power grid to remote locations.  But solar still faces a number of obstacles before it can really replace fossil fuels for power generation. However, there are many unexpected challenges with solar electrification that entrepreneurs are learning about while doing business in these developing countries.

The Levelized Cost of Solar Power
Levelized cost of Solar Power is a term which describes the cost of the power produced by solar over a period of time, ty…
Post a Comment
Keep Reading

How to choose an energy efficient air conditioner

Due to rapid demand and the effort to minimize the global warming, the technology of energy efficient air conditioners are continuously being developed. Minimizing the power consumption of air conditioners will significantly contribute to decrease in carbon footprint as most of our power utilities still use fossil fuel to generate the electricity.
In general, the more efficient the equipment is, the more costly it is compared to the regular ones. Here are some steps that you can take when choosing energy efficient air conditioners to purchase.
Air Conditioner's capacity to cool
Air Conditioner's capacity to cool a room is defined as the capacity to remove  heat load from a room for achieving a certain room temperature and humidity. Basically, it is designed as 24°C temperature and 55% Relative Humidity. Human body feels comfortable with this combined temperature and Relative Humidity. Heat load is measured as BTU/hr. BTU acronym stands for British Thermal Unit. 1 …
1 comment
Keep Reading

Solar Mini Grid Components

Basic technical components of a solar mini grid are grouped into three systems. They are - Production System, Distribution System and End User System. 
Production System
A solar mini grid’s overall capacity to provide electricity to end users is determined by the production system. Energy generation technologies, inverters, a management system and storage (batteries).
Energy Generation Technologies
Diesel generators, hydropower systems, solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, wind turbines, biomass-powered generators and geothermal-powered generators are included in a solar mini grid energy generation technology. It’s a mix of sources (hybrid) of renewable or nonrenewable.
Inverters
An inverter can convert electrical current from DC to AC. Based on end user’s requirement, power inverters are used in the system. Some energy generation technologies produce direct current (DC) while others produce alternating current (AC). For example, a Solar PV module can generate only DC. Almost all mainstr…
Post a Comment
Keep Reading

How to do energy audit

An analysis of energy flows, for energy conservation in a building, process or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without negatively affecting the output(s) is called an energy audit. Identifying opportunities to reduce energy expense and carbon footprints by energy audit is the first step in residential, commercial and industrial real estate. An energy audit can identify the areas of energy waste in your home so you can make repairs and upgrades as needed.
Professional home energy assessors use specialized equipment and infrared cameras to analyze your home’s energy use, but you can still perform some energy auditing steps without a lot of equipment. To do your own energy audit, following steps need to be followed:

First Step: Inspecting Heating and Cooling Systems
Your electricity bill can be reduced significantly by improving your home’s heating and cooling efficiency. Following steps need to be followed to identify possible problems: Checking appliances…
9 comments
Keep Reading

Solar Site Assessment

In the process of selection, design and installation of an appropriate solar PV system for your home or business, a professional site assessment is a crucial part. Cost and power output of your potential PV System significantly depend on it. The output of a PV module is directly proportional to the amount of sunlight strikes on it. 
A proper site assessment significantly contributes to determine and identify a number of factors: the site capacity of generating energy, shading issues, how much revenue will be generated from the power plant, return on investment (ROI), rebates and incentives, structural and electrical concerns. The site assessment also significantly contributes to save money in basic energy efficiency improvements and more lucrative methods to organize a solar project on-site. After reviewing the report, you will be able to make well-versed decisions about your project. The site assessment report will help you to bring your goals, budget and energy needs together with th…
8 comments
Keep Reading

How to design a solar pv system

In order to design a solar pv system, you need to follow following steps:

1. Determine the amount of electricity (kWh) consumption and the electricity rate
It is important to determine the amount of electricity consumption per year for better understanding the economics of installing a solar system. On your utility bill, your electricity usage is summarized wherein natural gas usage should be excluded. As the path of the sun varies with the seasons, a solar PV system would offset your electricity demands mostly in the summer months. It should be also considered that most utility companies have a tier rate structure based on consumption patterns and state mandates. A small PV system significantly helps to reduce your electricity demands for moving you to a different tier, minimize your rates and saves your money.



2. Determine your available roof space (sq-ft)


Knowing your available roof space is crucialfor determining the quantity ofsolar panels you can actually use. Based on the size of y…
20 comments
Keep Reading