Solar Power - How It Works - Build Your Own Solar & Wind Power Plants

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Understanding Solar Power Generation
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jarrod_Brake]Jarrod Brake

An increasing number of people are now considering the conversion of solar energy into usable power. Those of you who are not may benefit from understanding exactly how solar power generation works, how it is helpful both to us and the environment. Many people all throughout the world do not know a lot about it. Because of that, they do not realize its advantages either.

You may not know this, but solar power has a pretty enviable reputation. The sun has been a source of power for more than a thousand years. It is a renewable source of energy. That means that we will never run out of it. It has been around for millennia and it is not going to fail us any time soon. Given the fact that a fraction of solar radiation could power up the whole world, there is no way we could use it all.

Long ago - and still today - solar power was used as a heating device. Like say, that is still one of its primary uses. Installing windows and skylights into houses is one form of solar power - known as passive power. A lot of windows are centrally placed so that they face the south, and the house itself must be set up a certain way. Solar energy can also be converted into power through active solar power, which relies on various solar technologies. These usually have to be installed. These methods can make solar energy be used as a heating and cooling source, in addition to providing power. Naturally any form of solar power also provides its own alternate light source, straight from the sun in the sky.

Solar panels are a popular technology associated with active solar power. You have problem seen them - on house roofs, in backyards, et cetera. They have been around since the nineteen seventies. They were known as solar collectors at that time. As the name suggests, they collected solar radiation, then later converted it into power. They were placed roof tops and able to work appliances.

Solar panels are the next phase of collectors, you could say. You can have them installed in a variety of places. Some of them can even be placed within your house. A popular method is to let the panels power the house during the day, while at night the power is run on batteries. These batteries get their juice from the heat stored in the panels.

Solar power generation can also be applied to water systems. That is right, there are solar powered hot water systems. Sometimes people choose to place the water tank outside, sort of like a cistern. The sun keeps the water hot. Other times, using active solar power, people choose to have water tubes running alongside their solar panels. The water gets heated as it runs along the tubes.

Solar cells can be used on laptops, cell phones, and other such devices. The solar cells, too, juice up the batteries within those items. The use of an inverter converts them to AC power.

Using solar power can save you money as you help save the environment. Neither the sun nor its radiation rays cost a penny. The only fees you will have to pay will involve installation and maintenance, and they do not go on forever. Besides, the sun renews itself. When you do not have to worry about running low on a power source, the cost is significantly lower. [http://www.solarpowerelectricitynow.com]Solar power electricity

Solar power electricity Secrets revealed ! - [http://www.solarpowerelectricitynow.com]Solar power electricity

What the governments don’t want you to know! Secrets finally revealed.-

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jarrod_Brake http://EzineArticles.com/?Understanding-Solar-Power-Generation&id=1475277

Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Power - Solar Power For Homes
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Aff]Andrew Aff

Advantages and disadvantages of solar power are simply incomparable. There are way too many positive things to say and only a few negatives. However, even these few negative sides could be turned into something positive.

Let’s start with the good stuff. Solar power is a source of renewable energy. There is no any kind of polluting emissions while producing that kind of energy. This option is simply a MUST for our suffering planet. Advantages and disadvantages of solar power are very clear when it comes to the environment, going green, and saving our dear Mother Earth.

Most of the car manufacturers are looking into alternative fuels and other renewable sources of energy, not only because the oil prices are skyrocketing with each passing minute, but also because the global warming is starting to show off its ugly side.

Advantages and disadvantages of solar power are not only limited to the environmental issue. Electricity costs are rising almost as high as the oil prices, which by the way were peaking in July at 147 dollars a barrel. Using solar power for homes drastically reduces that scary electricity bill. Solar panels are now available in most of the hardware stores all across the North America and Western Europe; however these panels are priced too high for the average consumer. This is a big disadvantage for this emerging industry.

Thousands of home owners around the world don’t let themselves get intimidated by the high-priced products - they simply build their own solar panels and power up their homes with this easily accessible renewable energy. With a proper guide, anyone could be building their own solar power panels, hence reducing or even eliminating their electricity bill and contributing to the environment instead of trying to decided between all the advantages and disadvantages of solar power.

Start using [http://solarpowerforhomes.weebly.com/guides.html ]Solar Power for Homes today! Check out this [http://solarpowerforhomes.weebly.com/guides.html ]Build Your Own Solar Panel Guide Review to see which guide is the best for you!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Aff http://EzineArticles.com/?Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-Solar-Power—Solar-Power-For-Homes&id=1480105

How Wind Power is an Excellent Way to Produce Electricity
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=April_Kerr]April Kerr

Wind is another powerful energy like the sun light and water current that can be transformed into electric energy. This is what is called the wind power. The wind turbines are used to produce power from wind. Currently the power generated from wind fulfills about 1% of the total power requirement of the world. The windmills are positioned and they are connected to the electric grids to produce electrical energy from it.

You are free to generate ample energy from wind and there is no pollution related to this. This energy is absolutely eco-friendly and can be used for various commercial as well as domestic purposes. The oldest usage of the wind power is recorded for the sailors who used to avail this while sailing on the boats for long journeys. The first windmill of the world was built in Afghanistan. There are turbines with multiple blades which often generate huge wind power.

Residential Production of Wind Power

The price of electricity is increasing tremendously in today’s world and this is the reason why many people are taking interest in setting up the wind power system at their homes. In case of producing the wind power at home, you need to place a wind turbine at the top of a high tower or building so that the kinetic energy formed by the wind gets transformed into electric energy to fulfill the needs of the domestic house hold.

The wind power produced like this runs through the cables and wires in your house. But often the quantity of the energy produced by the wind power is more than the requirement of the houses. This is the reason why there are many utility companies which offer you to buy the electricity back when they are not required by you.

The wind turbine used for the domestic wind power production is smaller than the commercial ones but they are sufficiently effective. Moreover this is going to cut down the electricity bills significantly.

Benefits of Wind Power

The most important and significant benefit of using wind power is that this reduces the level of pollution remarkably. The wind turbines work on the simple principles of transformation of energy and this is the reason why there is no way the environment will get polluted because of this.

The statistics show that usage of wind power will cut down the pollutant level up to 1.2 metric tons. Some of the people used to feel that the production of wind power for the residential purpose will not be a beneficial one.

But in reality this is quite easy and produces more power than you actually need. So if you wish to get rid of those fat electric bills then the wind power is the best option.

April Kerr owns website Wind Power Shop which has details of where to buy [http://windpowershop.info/shop/wind-generators]cheap wind generators and [http://windpowershop.info/shop/wind-generator-blade]wind turbine blades.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=April_Kerr http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Wind-Power-is-an-Excellent-Way-to-Produce-Electricity&id=1447679

How a Wind Turbine Works
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bloch]Michael Bloch

Wind comes from atmospheric changes; changes in temperature and pressure makes the air move around the surface of the earth; all of which is triggered by the sun. So in a way, wind energy is another form of solar power. A wind turbine captures the wind to produce energy. The wind makes the rotor spin; as the rotor spins, the movement of the blades spinning gives power to a generator which makes energy. The motion of the wind turbine turning is called kinetic energy, this power is converted into electricity.

Converting wind into electricity

Wind power is converted into electricity by magnets moving past stationary coils of wire known as the stator. As the magnets pass the stator, AC electricity is produced. It is then converted into DC electricity which can be used to charge batteries which store the electrical energy or can also be fed into a grid interactive inverter for feeding power into the electricity grid.

Wind power benefits

Wind power is a clean energy source that can be relied on for the long-term future. A wind turbine creates reliable, cost-effective, pollution free energy. It is affordable, clean and sustainable. One wind turbine can be sufficient to generate energy for a household. Because wind is a source of energy which is non-polluting and renewable, wind turbines create power without using fossil fuels, without producing greenhouse gases or radioactive or toxic waste. Wind power reduces global warming.

Wind turbine suitability

Wind turbines can be installed on properties, on boats, or caravans. Getting a wind turbine depends entirely on the amount of wind generated in your area. The first thing you need to do is to find out the average speed in your region.

The average wind speed needs to be above 5m/s (18km per hour) to make installing a wind turbine worthwhile. Ideal locations for wind turbines are in the country, on farms, or on the coast: basically anywhere away from built-up areas. The more buildings around the wind turbine, the less wind there is.

Setting up a wind turbine is a big undertaking that takes time but it can be a very cost effective way of creating power as long as the average wind speed is high enough. In certain cases, installing a wind turbine can be even better than installing solar panels because it can create more energy!

Before investing in a wind turbine system, consult with a wind energy professional who will be able to tell you if the winds in your area make it a worthwhile purchase, any renewable energy rebates that may be applicable and also the best turbine and accessories to suit your needs.

Michael Bloch is a consultant for Energy Matters - [http://www.energymatters.com.au]Wind and Solar Power Australia - a green energy equipment company offering a wide range of discounted solar panels, deep cycle batteries, [http://www.energymatters.com.au/wind-turbines-c-149.html ]wind turbines and associated accessories for residential, businesses and schools. The Energy Matters site contains a wide range of resources; including a solar power system builder tool, renewable energy rebates information and free advice on off grid and grid connect solar and wind power systems.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bloch http://EzineArticles.com/?How-a-Wind-Turbine-Works&id=1448971

Popularity: 24% [?]