How to Lower the Energy Costs With Photovoltaic Panels

    To better understand how photovoltaic panels work, it is important to explain what solar energy is and why is considered green energy.

Is solar energy green energy?

    Solar energy is the energy emitted by the Sun to our planet, energy in the form of light and heat.

Solar energy is a renewable energy source, which we can exploit for free and without polluting the planet. In order to benefit from this free energy, we must turn to photovoltaic panel systems, below I detail the components of such a system.

How to Lower the Energy Costs With Photovoltaic Panels

    A photovoltaic panel converts into electricity, the light radiation from the sun, with a certain efficiency, the electricity produced by the panels is in the form of a direct current.

There are different types of photovoltaic panel construction technologies:

• Monocrystalline photovoltaic panels have high efficiency in the case of direct solar radiation.

• Polycrystalline photovoltaic panels usually have the best price-performance ratio.

• Amorphous photovoltaic panels, have high efficiency in the case of indirect solar radiation and require a larger area for the same installed power.

The performance of photovoltaic panels is influenced by a number of factors such as:

• Orientation, a South or East-West orientation is preferred.

• Inclination, the best angle of inclination of the panels, is specified in the technical prescriptions for each one. Too small an angle can lead to snow deposition, and this reduces the ability to capture solar energy.

• Shading can be caused by other construction elements or trees, and this leads to a significant reduction in the performance of photovoltaic panels.

A system of photovoltaic panels consists of:

• Inverter;

• Electric circuit;

• Electric meter;

• Batteries.

Inverter - The role of the inverter is to transform the energy produced by photovoltaic panels, energy in the form of direct current into energy that can be used by the consumer, energy in the form of alternating current.

Electric circuit - The role of the electrical circuit is the wiring between the photovoltaic panels and the inverter, between the inverter and the batteries, and between the inverter and the electrical panel.

The wiring between the inverter and the photovoltaic panels is done using special cables.

The grouping of the photovoltaic panels in strings (series connection) will take into account the parameters of the inverter (current and voltage) and the wiring between the batteries and the inverter or between the inverter and the electrical panel.

The shortest possible routes are recommended.

Electric meter - the electricity meter accurately measures the electricity that passes through a measuring point. The classic meter has only one meaning, from the national energy system to the consumer. The two-way meter (smart meter) counts the energy consumed, but also the energy produced.

Electricity meters must be approved by the electricity distributor.

Replacing the classic meter with a two-way meter is the responsibility of the distribution operator and is also done at his expense, following the issuance of the connection certificate.

Batteries - the role of batteries in a photovoltaic system is to store the energy produced by the photovoltaic panels for use when needed.

Important parameters for storage and lifetime of a storage system:

Number of loading and unloading cycles;

DoD or depth of discharge, is the percentage of battery capacity that can be used without affecting its battery life.

The ambient temperature at the location where the batteries are stored.

Recommendations for choosing photovoltaic panels

• See how much electricity you consume, you can look at the electricity bills from the last year.

• Make your consumption more efficient, use LED lighting, and more energy-efficient appliances.

• Find out what solar potential your roof has.

• Choose a kit tailored to your needs.

• Buy them from an authorized supplier with an invoice and a long warranty. You can also opt for an annual maintenance package from the same installation company.

The correct sizing of the number of panels and the correct assembly lead to a decrease of 70% in the annual energy bills. If it seems like a big enough investment, it can pay off in 4-5 years and become even more environmentally friendly.

For more information on the benefits of photovoltaic panels, click here!

    If you have any questions or would like to help with advice, feel free to leave a comment and I will answer as soon as I can. Thanks!