Modern Prescription to energy independence

Renewable energy is no more an option but a necessary for all in this present generation. There are several method of generating electricity but most of these methods (especially from fossil fuel) are not clean (but impact the environment), not reuseable/renewable niether sustainable. The cleaniest and most sustainable form of energy that cut down on energy cost, improve climatic conditions and changing the way we live in this present day have been proven to be renewable enegy, energy generated from non fossil fuel such as from Wind, Solar, Biomass and others. Solar energy is one of the easiest way by which individual can produced energy.  It is a form of energy derived from the sun irradiance and sun is ofcourse a free gift of nature. This energy from sun ray is being converted into heat energy or electric energy. This page will expose to you how to use the advantages of Solar  electric energyto take care of all your electric power needs most especially if you are residing in an area where electricity national grid supply is out of reach. Because Solar system is effecient,  cost effective and renewable, people living in remote areas should consider it as one of the best way of gaining independence out of national grid where you pay for energy that you never consume.

Devices used in Solar Power System

• Solar Inverter: is used in the convertion of direct current from solar panel or battery bank to alternating current. Rated in KiloWatts or KiloVoltAmpere

• Battery: Used for storing energy generated by the Solar modules during peak period for later use. Rated in AmpereHour

• Solar Panel: Photovoltaic cells are used to absorb the irradiance from sun ray and convert into direct current electrical energy which are further processed to generate electricity. rated in Watts 

• Charge Controller: CC is the device that regulate the amount of power that is required to charge a battery bank according to energy produced by the solar panel without damaging the battery as a result of overcharging

• Protective devices : Every electrical circuit is protected against surge or abnormal conditions that may arise in the course of delivering duty. Such devices are not limited to fuse, circuit breaker and overload relay. It is essential that we protect every component in the circuit so that in even of fault, preventive measures are put in place to reduce or eliminate damages.

• Switch board: totality of component such as gear switch, change over switch and other metering devices that are use for external control of the system 

• Battery rack: The fabricated rack purposely sized and built to house all the battery together for easy arrangement, accessibility and connections

• Cable: All components aforementioned are connected together to each other using different types of cable sizes and cable lugs according to system capacity. This must be carefully selected according to requirements and regulations.

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There are three ways or designs by which electricity can be havest, backup and reuse through Solar system. The first is On-grid (grid tie) Solar system, the other is Off-grid Solar system while the last is Hybrid system.. Knowing the type to employed will determine components that will make up such system

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Grid tie Solar power generating system is a system that are used in environment where there is availability of electric energy from the national grid. This type of system is intentionally built for personal use and supply of its excess to national grid and in order for the beneficiary to have access to the grid and pay less or nothing. Beneficiary may even get payment from the government if the supply is more than the consumption. There is no battery for energy havesting or energy storage for later use in this type of system. For sure, the beneficiary supply power to the grid during the day time while they are away for daily activities and consume from the grid during the night when sun will not be available. 

Components of Grid-tied power generating system

1. Solar Array  also known as Solar PV (Photovoltaic) or Solar Panel
2. Grid-tied inverter
3. Net meter
4. Protective fuse or circuit breaker
5. Cable for solar panel and baterry connection
6. Switch board

Off-grid solar power generating system is the type of system built without the facility or home being connected to another source of electric power than the Solar Panels. This system is designed to store energy into battery when sun is shinning and take power from the battery to suppy the load at night. Here Battery bank rating must be well calculated and all consideration such as battery DOD, numbers of day of autonomous without sunshine, total number of cloudy days possible to experience and consideration for standby generator if there will be any.

Components of Off grid power generating system

1. Solar Array  also known as Solar PV (Photovoltaic) or Solar Panel
2. Power Inverter
3. Charge Controller
4. Battery bank
5. Protective fuse or circuit breaker
6. Cable for solar panel and baterry connection
7. Battery rack.

Hybrid Solar power generating system is the type of system that takes the merit of both Grid tie and Off grid solar system as well as wind farm which is optional and combine them in one system. In the system of energy production, the Grid tie inverter generate power for usage, supply to the grid, take energy from the backup power in battery for use during blackout.

Components of Hybrid power generating system

1. Solar Array  also known as Solar PV (Photovoltaic) or Solar Panel
2. Grid Tie Inverter
3. Charge Controller
4. Battery bank
5. Net Meter
6. Protective fuse or circuit breaker
7. Cable for solar panel and baterry connection
8. Battery rack.
9. Switch board