Solar Energy and our daily life

Solar Energy is a completely renewable source of energy which produces power without producing greenhouse gases for your home or businesses. The cost of solar energy has been steadily decreasing, leading to many uses that can affect you in your daily life. We are now harnessing its energy to replace traditional methods. Instead of burning fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, consumers can  take advantage of the infinite energy  of the sun to power homes, cars and appliances. Lets have a look at how solar energy can be used in our daily life.

Electric Power Generation

A large scale installation of solar panels can generate utility scale electric power that augments electricity from conventional nuclear and fossil fuel power plants. Residential and commercial buildings can  also use PV panels on the roof or lawn to capture the sun's rays and convert them into electricity. This system can be on grid or off grid. The off grid systems operate independently from the grid to provide all of a house hold's electricity. The on grid system adds the utility grid, which reduces the need for the system to provide all the energy all the time. The battery bank provides backup to some or all loads during utility outages.

Utility Scale PV System

On Grid PV system

Off Grid PV System

Road Signs

Small-scale solar power for lighting and other uses avoids the need for gas-powered generators or wiring to an electric outlet. A small solar panel provides enough power to light up the stop signs or message boards used in construction work. Other types of solar-powered signs include speed limit signs and radar driven speed warnings. The solar panels charges a battery so the sign continues to light up during night time hours.

Solar Powered Road Sign

Solar Powered Road Sign

Water Heating

The solar rooftop collectors gather heat energy from the sun for heating water. These collectors do not convert light energy into electricity; they use the sun's heat to raise the temperature of water or any other fluid flowing through the pipes of the collector. This hot water can be used for swimming pools,  laundry, showers and many other applications. 

Solar Water Heating Collector

Solar Water Desalination

Desalination is one of the oldest methods of water purification known to man. We can also see the desalination process in nature known as "water cycle". The sun provides energy that  causes surface water to evaporate. Subsequently the water vapor comes in touch with a cooler air; it then re-condenses to form rain. The same process can be duplicated artificially with much faster speed and higher quality. The two basic two basic techniques for water desalination using solar energy are direct and indirect methods. The direct method includes using heat energy of the sun to evaporate water while through  indirect method the solar energy is converted into electricity to power a membrane process.

Solar water desalination

Solar Charging

Battery life is a daily nuisance in the technological world. Cell phones, tablets, smart watches, wearables- users can only go so long before they  have to plug these devices into an outlet or replace the batteries. This can make events like camping or business conferences difficult, where there isn't  24/7 access to electricity. Solar power can give consumers a source of constant personal solar energy to charge devices without the need for electricity.

Imagine leaving the house without thinking twice about what battery percentage your phone or other devices is on. It wouldn't matter, because you can charge your device portably using solar technology.

Solar Charging

Solar Lighting

Solar power is an easy, affordable, and efficient way to power street lamps, exterior lights, string lights, landscape lighting, and other lights. Solar lights do not require complex setups or electricity hookups. They can exist in the middle of nowhere without the need to run miles of expensive wire. they are cost-effective and reduce the risk of interruptions due to a poor connection.

Solar Lighting