Photovoltaic Solar Energy
“Harnessing the Power of the Sun”
Why choose photovoltaic solar energy?
Solar energy is the most abundant energy source available on our planet. Every 15 minutes, enough sunlight reaches the Earth's surface to satisfy the entire world's energy needs for an entire year. Harnessing solar power has proven to be a reliable method of producing energy and, currently, states and countries obtain a significant part of their energy from solar panels.
Photovoltaic solar energy is one of the most environmentally friendly energy sources, it is clean, does not emit harmful gases and currently constitutes one of the main options in the fight against serious environmental problems on the planet.
This energy enables the generation of electricity through solar radiation incident on the solar modules. The direct electric current from the photovoltaic panels can be transformed into alternating current with an inverter, which allows accumulation for autonomous consumption or transformation into conventional electricity for injection into the grid.
There are many reasons to choose solar energy:
- It does not pollute, thus being a clean way to generate electricity: renewable, economical and respectful of the environment;
- It is an energy available to everyone, which can generate electricity through installations on roofs, pergolas or any available cover;
- Photovoltaic installations do not require sophisticated maintenance. In addition, solar modules have a proven lifespan of over 25 years;
- As a modular technology, photovoltaic installations adapt flexibly to various power requirements and can be expanded as needed;
- Helps conserve resources. Our natural resources are scarce; oil, gas and uranium run out. On the contrary; Solar energy is practically unlimited and is distributed to all corners of the world.
SELF-CONSUMPTION PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
What does self-consumption consist of?
It is a photovoltaic system calculated in such a way that its electrical production coincides with the dwelling's own consumption, avoiding consuming this energy from the electricity company. This action to save energy through own production for on-site consumption is called SELF-CONSUMPTION.
Benefits
The most significant advantage of self-consumption is savings. Producing a portion of the energy consumed results in considerable savings in the electric bill. If, in addition, the continued rise in electricity prices is considered, producing energy in this way is profitable in a short time.
A second advantage of self-consumption is that, as electricity does not travel long distances, energy losses in the grid are avoided. With the current model of centralized generation, about 10% of electrical energy is lost during transport and distribution.
Another benefit of self-consumption: it uses clean technologies for production, which reduces the use of polluting fossil fuels (petroleum) and the dependence on their consumption. Photovoltaic energy presents itself as the most suitable formula to generate electricity for self-consumption in homes.
Its modular installation allows for a simpler expansion.
ISOLATED PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
What is an isolated installation?
An isolated installation is the ideal solution when supplying electricity via the public grid is too expensive, technically difficult or even impossible. In this case, photovoltaic installations use solar energy, consuming it directly or storing it in a battery for later consumption.
How it works?
If we want to understand how a solar energy installation works, we must first know how a traditional domestic electrical installation works.
Throughout the house, the electric company provides access to its electrical network, with prior passage through the meter, to supply ourselves with electricity. This energy is consumed in alternating current (AC) 230V and at a frequency of 50 Kz, which are the characteristics of the electrical signal of the network. Therefore, most electrical appliances on the market work with these electrical energy characteristics (A.C. 230V and 50 Hz).
If we want to supply ourselves with electricity, we can use photovoltaic solar energy. This energy takes advantage of a physical phenomenon that occurs when the sun's radiation falls on certain materials: the so-called “photovoltaic effect”. This effect produces an electrical current that can be used in photovoltaic modules. But the particularity of this phenomenon is that the electric current is created in Direct Current (DC), like that of a cell or battery.
As we said, most electrical appliances on the market work with alternating electrical energy (AC 220V and 50 Hz), so we need a system that transforms the electrical energy supplied by the photovoltaic modules into usable electrical energy for our electrical appliances. This system is the inverter.
In addition to the signal correction provided by the modules, from C.C. in C.A., in an isolated installation it is also necessary to accumulate energy during the sunny hours in order to be used during the night, since production and demand are not equal throughout the day. Therefore, we need the modules to charge the batteries, from which energy is taken for consumption.
To charge the batteries, the photovoltaic panels have to be connected to them through the so-called solar regulator or charge regulator.
In short, in an isolated photovoltaic installation, the modules transform solar energy into electrical energy in D.C.; and these are connected to the regulator that controls the charge of the batteries. These, in turn, are connected to the inverter that transforms the signal into AC. to connect directly to the electrical network of the house.
