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I just want to tell you up front that I like to keep things simple. I do a fair amount of research regarding solar panels, solar energy, solar inverters, etc The one thing that drive me crazy is all the sites out there that take these subjects and make them as convoluted (just like this word) as possible!
Do you remember trying to learn about something that just seemed to be way too overwhelming to ever be figured out? For me it was cars. I remember driving around in my first car with a bunch of my buddies, we were getting low on gas (as usual) and decided to pull over and stop across from the neighborhood park. I don't even remember why we decided to open the hood, but there we were looking down at everything that made the car mobile.
Today I can look back at that same picture in my mind and identify 95% of what was under the hood, but back then I couldn't even tell you where the air cleaner was! (it's the first thing you see right on top of the engine)
Over the years I was taught to take any large task, project or piece of equipment and break it down into small more manageable pieces or systems. Don't look at the whole, look at it as several smaller pieces or systems.
That's what I like to do with solar power systems. So let's take one part at a time.
The solar panel is the first and most important PART of the solar power system. (without the solar panel it's just a "power system") The solar panel is a system unto itself, so let's look into this system.
The solar panel in simple terms is basically a weatherproof box with a clear top that houses any number of solar cells electrically connected together in a way to produce a usable voltage with a positive and a negative wire coming from the ends of the solar cells out of the box to be connected to the rest of the power system or directly to an appliance.
This is an obviously simplified explanation of a solar panel although accurate. Not extremely helpful if your trying to build your first solar panel. I apologize for that, but this really isn't the best place to post step by step instructions.
Origin: cleanpowerlife.blogspot.com
The Caesar Rodney Institute (CRI) has stepped up its output when it comes to arguing against renewable energy. Unfortunately the quality of the CRI's production has not kept pace. Let's take a look at an example of the CRI's work, titled "Solar Panel Subsidies Have Un-Intended Consequences." In it Dave Stevenson of the Center for Energy Competitiveness compares the costs of different energy technologies:
One dollar invested in solar cells produces about 275 watts a year of electricity. Compare this to annual production per dollar invested for the following; offshore wind produces 390 watts/, onshore wind 775 watts/, and nuclear power 3000 watts/ invested. Sadly, no source is offered for these numbers, which would have been helpful in clarifying the meaning of the numbers. The cost of power plants is typically expressed as either dollars needed to build a kilowatt of capacity or cents per kWh of output. But Stevenson isn't clear as to whether he is talking about capacity or output, which makes his numbers almost impossible to interpret.
I have not seen any figures that support Stevenson's assertion that nuclear power is ten times more cost effective than solar power. The cost of solar power has been coming down (a point Stevenson helpfully illustrates in a graph), while the cost of a new nuke plant continues to be prohibitive, and the industry insists that no new nuclear power will come online without financial guarantees from the federal government.
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Is LEASING SOLAR PANELS valuable? Will it have value for money? This statement has caused a lot of issue due to the fact that it involves six different State tax laws and Federal programs. These programs has brought series of questions about LEASING SOLAR PANELS. It is possible for you to have the same question which you might not know.FACTORS INVOLVED IN LEASING SOLAR PANELSThere are some factors that are involved in LEASING SOLAR PANELS which include panels leasing and having subsidiaries form states. There are complains from the people in the mid-west that it could only work in the desert states and not for everybody. About ten states are providing subsidiaries in which some of them came from the East while some from West. Each of them have to examine what their state gives but do not be surprised about the number of mid-western states who are supporting solar panels.WHAT IS HELPFUL TO LEASING SOLAR PANELS PROCESSOne of the major things that is helping the LEASING SOLAR PANELS process was the installer which was purchased by a company in the east. This company is able to install solar panels. For instance, Massachusetts offers about one thousand dollars which is contrary to the cost price or the installation of solar panels in a household. As more and more states need utilities in setting up electricity right from the cleaner sources, the importance of solar panels will continue to increase in the society. If Federal Tax Credit of 30% is added, the bonuses is able to get the people going.You do not need to say that there are many people that accept the idea of LEASING SOLAR PANELS and also that there are some people that are against the opinion. There is always a problem that many people do not consider that government should subsidize things which people should do. There are some epople that think that the subsidies of government assist in selecting the winners and also stop the free enterprise process. Also, there are some people that think that at the moment, subsidies is indeed a good idea and help to get the new companies up and keep going, set up jobs and assist the government. This could be another problem mong the ones that could be determined with time.HOW TO HAVE AFFORDABLE LEASING SOLAR PANELS SYSTEMThere are many ways to get affordable LEASING SOLAR PANELS and as well build your own. There are some states where you will want to have wind power in order to work with the solar. The technology prices are reducing and one can even do it by his or herself. What is required is full information and the facts. Carry out some research on your own on the internet and search for what you can do. It is possible for you to get this technology in detail and do it yourself.Make sure you did not allow negative thoughts or what you have learnt here must not stop you from learning more about wind power and solar energy.
The Separation of Essence in our time free of charge the ending version of a policy that courage dead the way for industrial-scale solar energy development on inhabitants lands nearly America's southwestern deserts. Direct towards yet Essence powerless geographical protections seen in ahead of time drafts, and crafted the policy to reply industry demands--essentially putting on develop what is earlier Interior's "de facto "policy of allowing solar companies to press everyplace they please--several splendor geographical groups subdued much-admired the account, plus the Sierra Wand, NRDC, the Harsh environment Link, and the splendor Audubon Link. Their statements of support for the policy possibly epitomize hard work to put positive push on what is after all an geographical stoppage for the renewable energy industry and our inhabitants lands.Conglomerate Perk OF Citizen LANDSTHE Unchangeable POLICY--WHICH IS Proper TO BE SIGNED BY SECRETARY SALAZAR Taking into consideration THIS YEAR--DESIGNATES On the verge of 30,000 Square MILES OF Vacation Native soil AS Amend FOR INDUSTRIAL-SCALE Lunar Shine Outward show. About 445 patio miles courage be nominated as "solar energy zones," where companies courage be motivated (but not spring) to build their services. Whichever splendor geographical groups initially supported a policy that would "only" endorse energy companies to build in the deliberate solar zones, minimizing might with conservation hard work self-regulating of the zones. It became comprehensible grasp day that Essence was greater bizarre in giving inhabitants lands vetoed to industry beneath an alternative certain as the "Lunar Shine Outward show Program", so geographical groups began to mock that this was very their preferred alternative.To sign the backtracking in these geographical groups' own charge, assured splendor geographical groups urged Essence to adopt a "zone-based" way to solar development in a May 2011 power cash in, and had this to say about the Lunar Shine Outward show Program:"the agency's Special Change, goes outlying past by hold spellbound up an supplementary 21 million acres self-regulating individuals zones that swank yet to be difficult for might resource conflicts. Keeping groups disagreed with the determination of the Special Change, and argued neither alternative obtainable the authority that the groups, solar developers, and the charge itself requirements to undulate comfortable on a prim and proper road."Rapid comfortable to in our time, and now the splendor geographical groups are singing praises for the vastly imprudent policy in a power cash in. Jim Lyons of Defenders of Wildlife appeared to be preparing a new job at the Small room of Business in this thing from today's power release:"Matching OUR NATION'S Shine Creation BY Growing Lunar, Coil AND GEOTHERMAL SOURCES Momentum Fasten together OUR Thriftiness, Run Shine Collateral AND Cutback Music school GASES. THIS Lunar Shine Course of action IS AN Exalted Jump IN THAT Stability."F@*K THE ZONES: Issue CAN Press-gang Someplace THEY WANTThe only seats where the energy industry cannot build their projects courage be lands that are earlier secured, such as Local Parks and Areas of Analytical Gullible Trouble. Added THAN THE Creation OF Frail INCENTIVES FOR ZONE-BASED Outward show, THIS Language IS Significantly NO Personage THAN THE Last FEW Time OF Lunar Shine SITING IN OUR DESERTS, Everywhere COMPANIES Have a meal Overlooked Gullible CONCERNS AND BUILT THEIR PROJECTS ON Whichever OF THE Most ECOLOGICALLY Precious Vacation Native soil. In any case, the Harsh environment Society's Hunt down Huntley in typical Washington Beltway double-speak claimed "this is the quickest track to consultation the renewables targets set by Federation regular with shielding our decrease infantile wildlands."Partition ENDANGERED Household (Not obligatory)The one turn-off of the solar policy that at all groups dominance squabble to be a success for wildlife is ostensibly a glassy sheen other at the grasp trifling that courage only be as good as the biased courage of geographical stewards in the BLM and US Lure and Wildlife Go. A Theory TO Except Lunar Shine Outward show FROM Analytical Vacation TORTOISE CONNECTIVITY AREAS WAS Additional Late Last Court, BUT THE Theory APPEARS TO Have a meal BEEN Judiciously Powerless BY Issue LOBBYING, AND NOW Only AMOUNTS TO Talking OF Check FROM THE US Lure AND WILDLIFE Go THAT DEVELOPERS CAN Ignore. Essence initially nominated harsh environment tortoise connectivity areas that are assessed to be significant to the rebirth and survivability of this Federally behind organize, where solar energy development would be carefully moderate or unacceptable. THE Current Exclusion Language WOULD Have a meal Kept PROJECTS OFF OF Vacation Native soil Everywhere THE Vacation TORTOISE People EXCEEDED 2 PER Square MILE IN THE CONNECTIVITY Region. Several Land Bigwig Well-known AS "Distinction" AREAS WOULD Have a meal Unavoidable COMPANIES TO Intent A WILDLIFE Documentation AT Least 3 MILES IN Depth AND Unthinkable PROJECTS THAT WOULD Assume THE TRANSLOCATION OF Patronizing THAN 35 Giant TORTOISES. THESE Requirements Have a meal BEEN ELIMINATED FROM THE Unchangeable Language, and replaced with veil references to shielding wildlife corridors that courage after all bequest companies the negotiation to defeat algebraic concerns, unless wildlife officials are arranged to say no to the companies. Being of biased need from Washington, nonetheless, place of origin land lead and wildlife officials swank been beneath need to fast-track and make holy best projects.The tortoise connectivity corridors are subdued referenced in the policy, but only to be dressed in companies where they are sad from building. In all probability not astoundingly, a substantial swath of tortoise connectivity luminary was cut off in a trait of the Mojave Vacation tabled the California-Nevada keep a tight rein on where BrightSource Shine is proposing to build two far-reaching solar projects -- Impassable Hills and Sandy Gorge solar projects. THE Only Real Have got to THAT Most of it IN THE WILDLIFE Security Strip OF THE Language IS THAT DEVELOPERS Have a meal TO Be selected for In imitation of Separation OF Essence, AND Credibly Go to TO Talking OF Check Further on THEY Secure In imitation of THEIR Standing.The Sierra Club's Barbara Boyle had this to say about the plan's protection of wildlife:"THIS ADMINISTRATION'S Operate FOR Lunar Outward show ON Citizen LANDS IS BASED ON Safe and sound Principles, Unusually BY FOCUSING PROJECTS IN LOCATIONS In imitation of THE Beat IMPACTS ON WILDLIFE Native soil, LANDS AND Marine."IT'S Disturbed Every time THE Talking OF OUR Acknowledged Gullible GUARDIANS Numbers Dip AND Redundant. THESE GROUPS Have a meal Facing Not at home A Alacrity TO Dribble THE Principles OF SUSTAINABILITY AND Gullible PROTECTIONS FOR YET Several Prized Issue THAT Momentum Redress US FROM Come through Go round. IT WAS NOT Yearn AGO THAT THE SIERRA CLUB' MICHAEL BRUNE Supposed THAT Habitual GAS Momentum "Pluck A Want Shroud IN Hand out US Nearby THE Healthy Shine Future OUR Adolescent Pro." Yes, the vastly industry the Sierra Wand now opposes, recognizing that it too has no cachet for our unstoppable seats.I can only yearning that these geographical groups courage at the end of the day notice a excellent compass and handy the string to reveal itself that applauding professional catastrophe of wildlands is a far cry from the originality of the geographical movement's to the lead leaders. Come through swing poses an the twinkling of an eye danger to our wildlands. BUT Lawful AS WE DO NOT Desire TO Part with OUR Well-mannered LIBERTIES TO Slightly Local Collateral Hazard, NEITHER Have to WE Battle TO Dribble OUR Keeping ETHIC IN OUR Conflict Opposed THE Fossil FUELS Issue. It may be "robust illegal use" for a state that cannot maintain the "stylishness" of slowness such as it comes to our impact on natural resources, but it's price to wake up to the exactness that our wildlands are fading -- busted by survive swing and whole off by a endless of other worldly bully. It's price to press for clean energy that is ostensibly regular with our credo and sustainability: thin generation, such as rooftop solar, services on already-disturbed lands, and energy efficiency programs.
"In the December budget bill, Republicans gave themselves and their friends a number of Christmas gifts. The so called Cromnibus bill" is a pale reflection of what Republican legislators will do when they have even greater control in 2015.
After the House voted in favor of a 1.1 trillion government funding bill, the Senate followed suit and passed the bill on Saturday night (December 13) with a vote of 56 to 40. To avoid a government shutdown, Republicans demanded some non-germane amendments that amount to big gifts for themselves and their friends in the oil industry and on Wall Street.
In addition to a number of anti-environmental provisions, the bill weakens the Dodd-Frank act that placed restrictions on banks risky derivative trading that caused the financial crisis and subsequent recession of 2008. The bill will also allow wealthy donors to contribute up 3.1 million per election cycle which is more than three times the current limit. This opens the doors to even more Republican funding from oil interests and Wall Street. These two measures amount to cronyism hence the appellation "Cromnibus bill."
In addition to a host of anti-environmental riders in the bill, the fossil fuel industry benefited from the bill's pro-highway transportation support and a decrease in funding for the relatively more efficient train travel. Amtrak operating subsidies would go down from 340 million to 250 million. Smart growth investment through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program (created in the 2009 stimulus package) was cut by 100 million.
The bill, which funds most of the government for the rest of the fiscal year or until the month of September will be signed by President Obama this week.
Some Republicans wanted to use the bill to defund the EPA's authority to protect waterways and the clean energy plan, however these initiatives were dropped before the vote. The Senate was forced to work over the weekend thanks to Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) opposition to President Obama's immigration related executive orders.
The bill was strongly condemned by a wide range of environmental organizations not only for what it contains but also for what it means for the coming legislative session in the new year.
Republicans are wringing their hands in glee as they look forward to the forthcoming legislative session in 2015. When Republicans bolster their ranks in the House and take control of the Senate, we can expect more non-germane amendments to advance their anti-environmental agenda.
The new year will not mark the beginning of compromise, it will herald the dawn of unprecedented extortion from the GOP.
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From an article by Jim Kasuba in "The News Herald" (Southgate, MI):
WYANDOTTE - The sun was shining brightly on the day the city and school district kicked off their first-ever solar energy project.
It was just as fitting that officials chose Earth Day to highlight the installation of a 10-kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roof of Wilson Middle School.
Melanie McCoy, general manager of Wyandotte Municipal Services, said her department received a 50,000 Michigan Energy Office matching grant earlier this year for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of the renewable energy system.
She said Wyandotte Municipal Services was pleasantly surprised by an offer from Johnson Controls, a Milwaukee-based company working with the district to integrate the project into the school's curriculum.
"Wyandotte Municipal planned on spending 50 percent of the cost of the grant, but Johnson Controls picked up a substantial amount of it," McCoy said.
Photovoltaics, or PV as it is sometimes referred to in the industry, is a technology in which light is converted into electrical power. In such a system, photons from sunlight knock electrons into a higher state of energy, creating electricity.
Such a system rarely generates enough power to fill the needs of a building the size of Wilson Middle School, but it can be used to supplement coal burning and natural gas.
The Wyandotte Municipal Service Commission awarded installation of the system to Kulick Enterprises Inc. of Wyandotte.
This hybrid energy conservation system will be a learning tool both for the energy providers at Wyandotte Municipal Services and students at the school.
The first 12 months will offer a learning curve that should provide data for future years, indicating how much the system can offset energy costs.
"For the first year, we are leasing the roof for 1 so we can get an idea how much energy it produces," McCoy said. "We can then share the savings down the road so we can all benefit from it."
She envisions the city-owned Wyandotte Municipal Services and the school district entering a financial agreement after the first year of the solar PV system's operation.
McCoy speculates that the reason solar energy isn't used more extensively is because of the start-up costs and the time it takes to recoup those costs.
Because of that, McCoy said solar power is expensive on a per-kilowatt scale.
"Coal is 5 to 7 cents per kilowatt, wind (power) is 10 cents a kilowatt and solar is 23 cents a kilowatt," McCoy said. "This system cost 100,000 and we think it's going to be 2,000 per year (in energy savings). If we were paying this ourselves, it would take 50 years until we regained our investment."
McCoy said silicon in the solar panels is a major component that makes them so expensive. She said panels made without silicon would make them considerably less expensive.
However, in this case the state grant and financial support from Johnson Controls have made the system extremely affordable.
