Archive for the ‘Build Your Own Solar Panels’ Category

Large Solar Panel Manufacturer Out of Supply Until 2Q 2010

Posted by Randy on January 14th, 2010
Solar Energy at Home

© Kevin Dooley

As reported by Reueters, Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd has some good news to report.  They foresee the price of solar panels holding steady through 2010.

The bad news?  They’re sold out through the 2nd quarter of 2010 and have been in such a position since the end of 2009.

Suntech is one of the leaders in solar energy supplies and equipment and has four production facilities in China.  In November of 2009 they announced their first US production location would be located in Phoenix, AZ – the perfect location for research and development in the use of the sun for providing solar energy products for commercial and residential purposes.

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US Renewable Energy Consumption Expected to Rise

Posted by Randy on December 9th, 2009
Source: Energy Information Administration

Source: Energy Information Administration

According to the US Energy Information Administration’s latest forecast, the US is about to head into a period of increased consumption of non-hydro renewable energy sources – solar and wind power being two of the most highly recognized, renewable, sustainable sources of energy.

It is, however, painfully obvious by looking at the lines on this graph that the US has a long ways to go in using more of these renewable energy sources than the more environmentally damaging and non-sustainable sources such as fossil fuels. Why is it taking so long to take advantage of the sun and the wind for solar power energy production when they can be so beneficial to our planet, our homes, and our finances?

Because, as is often the case, “the good stuff don’t come cheap”.

That’s right – those “free” sources of energy actually cost more than the environmentally filthy regular fuel we use to churn our appliances and electronics. Money talks, and consumers follow.

Check out this solar calculator: http://www.findsolar.com/index.php?page=rightforme

Enter your zip code, the percent of solar electricity you want to replace in your home, and your current average kWh usage from your last electric bill. Press GO and find out what a professional installation of such a home solar panel system will cost you LESS the energy credit.

For a home using 2000 kWh per month wanting to replace 100% of their current electricity with solar powered energy – it would cost $72,450.22. (I love the 22 cents!). Better yet, the break even point (found under Savings in the calculator) is just a hair under 20 years.

So – who is going to pay $72,000 and not really see free electricity for another 20 years?

How then, is it expected that solar energy consumption, among other renewable sources, is expected to rise in the US?  Mostly through commercial and utility installations.  Until the cost of professional solar panels and installation comes down, solar energy power for homes isn’t going to become attainable for most homeowners unless they’re handy enough to build their own solar panels.

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Make Your Own Solar Panel With Inexpensive Parts

Posted by Randy on November 23rd, 2009

Over 500,000 people a month look up the term solar panel in Google each month.  This is recent data, demonstrating the continuing interest in converting the sun’s energy for use as an alternative fuel source.  Over 30,000 of those searches every month have to do with learning to make your own solar panel.

Commercial solar panels can be very expensive.  This is because of the cost involved in the mass production of the photovoltaic cells that make up a solar panel.  As with many new trends, the initial costs of mass production, while cheaper than manual production, are still too high to allow many consumers to benefit from the technology.  Think back to when IBM had large computers the sizes of warehouses and no single individual could afford the technology.  A lot has changed but the solar energy industry has some catching up to do.

You CAN make your own solar panel and many consumers are doing that today.  Done correctly, it is cheaper to buy the individual parts and tackle the job yourself than it is to buy a ready made panel.

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Build Your Own Solar Panels for Less

Posted by Randy on November 22nd, 2009

If you were to build your own solar panels, you could immediately reduce your electric bill. Build and install several panels, and your savings could climb considerably. The only thing preventing you from using them today is likely the prohibitive cost of a commercial package and installation.

Get around those costs by learning to build your own solar panel. Finding the necessary materials is the most time consuming task in the entire project but most of the materials necessary can be found and ordered online.

Even one 120 watt panel can product an annual savings of over $120 dollars. If you find the panel materials for less than $200, the payback period on your initial investment is less than two years.

Compare that to a commercial installation running anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 dollars and a payback period of ten plus years and its obvious that doing it yourself is the only way to leverage the free energy produced by the sun until the overall cost of commercial solar products comes down.

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Home Made Solar Panels – Small Projects, Big Savings

Posted by Randy on November 22nd, 2009
Solar Panel by Dominic's Pics

Solar Panel by Dominic's Pics

When oil prices began to rise in 2008, citizens of the United States – actually, people all over the planet – began to talk more about alternative sources of fuel than they ever had before and interest in home made solar panels rose, as well.

Due to the still high cost of manufacturing the photovoltaic cells needed to make solar panels, commercial costs of these panels make it impractical for homeowners to pay for a commercial installation. The cost to convert an average home to one fully functioning from solar energy can cost more than $20,000 and the homeowner may not receive sufficient savings to cover the cost of that investment for more than 10 years.

It seems ludicrous, thought, that a free source of energy like the sun should cost so much to acquire that it becomes unattainable. What we need to remember, and what slipped away when oil prices settled back down, is that there are other reasons homeowners should continue to seek solutions to converting their homes to solar power.

Solar powered electricity is much safer for the environment than the conversion process employed in traditional electricity sources. Simply because oil returned to a normal price base does not also mean that the issues with the environment were cleared up.

There are ways for homeowners to take advantage of solar power today without having to wait for commercial costs to become cost effective for the residential market. Many have found that home made solar panels can help defray their current electricity bill. Even moving several appliances from the standard grid to an off-grid source can mean a monthly reduction to your utility bill.

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Homemade Solar Power Solutions

Posted by Randy on November 22nd, 2009
Solar Powered Light Bulb

Solar Powered Light Bulb

As we plunder the earth of its natural energy sources, there is one abundant source of energy most of us could leverage over and over again to supply at least part of the power needed to keep our appliances and homes running. The sun is available to almost every habitable location on earth and can supply an endless amount of energy. Homemade solar power solutions will become more and more available to homeowners as the costs of manufacturing the photovoltaic cells continues to decline.

In the United States, the government already encourages residents to take advantage of solar power systems by offering tax credits for the expense of converting at least a portion of your home energy use to a solar or wind powered setup.

Even homemade solar power panels are eligible for the tax credit.

Advantages of Using Solar Power
More than any other alternative form of power, homeowners are looking towards solar solutions to reduce their draw on electric company power supplies.

  • Environmentally friendly: Solar power is the harnessing of the sun’s energy. Captured energy can be converted for use with today’s appliances. The process does not release harmful material back into the atmosphere.
  • Low cost alternative: Using the sun for solar power is free to all. It is the capturing and conversion of that energy that requires an initial investment. Once the investment costs have been recovered, within a few years time, any additional homemade solar power is absolutely free.
  • Provides ability to store power: Your home can only draw as much energy as it consumes. You cannot draw on your electric company and store additional power for future power outages or to use during non-peak times. Solar power, on the other hand, can be stored, allowing you an available power supply even if the sun is not shining or if you are suffering a power outage from a regular electric utility.

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