All You Need To Know About Solar Power

By Author: Ethan White
Total Articles: 5
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These features allow the sun to be a life-giving source, with all living forms on Earth deriving power from it one way or the other. 
It is these facts that cause us to think positively about solar energy (electricity in particular), where the sun’s radiation is used to power equipment to meet our residential and commercial electrical needs. In fact, the rising electricity costs should lead everyone to research more about solar power, which is the aim of this article. 
 
Recent Changes in Solar Technology 
When reading about solar power, one cannot help but notice the rapid changes taking place in this industry by the minute. For instance, just a couple of years ago, discussions about solar power were limited to theoretical knowledge. This was because installing these systems in residential buildings was considered impractical and was really expensive. 
However, recent improvements have not only made solar electricity an easy-to-install electricity generation system, it has become cost-effective ...
... as well. Moreover, even though larger panels are still being used, smaller solar panels have also been developed primarily to assist homeowners to install them in their properties. 
These developments have led to major expectations about solar power in the future. The most common of these are the prospects of solar power becoming the cheapest form of electricity available. Moreover, the use of solar-powered electricity will become widespread. While our interests lie in the news about solar power development in Australia, this electricity form can revolutionize lifestyles in the developing countries of Africa and Asia as well. 
What is Solar Electricity? 
Note that solar power is not synonymous with solar electricity. The latter is generated when sunlight falls on photovoltaic solar panels. In this way, solar electricity is different from solar heating where sunlight is used to heat water or air. 
Solar heating is not the topic of this article, but it is helpful to know that if the purpose is heating, then you would be better off with solar heating systems than solar electricity panels, which require high amounts of energy to provide the same effect. 
Also note that solar electricity is also described by the technical term “photovoltaic (PV) solar”. This describes the process through which electricity is produced in a solar PV panel. 
 
Where Does Solar Power Come from? 
The most well-known fact about solar power is that it is derived from sunlight. But let’s delve a little deeper. As mentioned before, the sun is a hotbed of intense nuclear activity which in turn produces light energy. This energy is called “photons”. Even while having no mass of their own, these photons contain in themselves substantial energy and speed. 
A photon pushes out from the sun’s core in 1 million years. However, once it is out on the surface, this photon travels through space at 670 m/h, reaching our planet in 8 minutes. During its travel, the photon can bump into other particles and even be razed when colliding with objects that have the power to absorb radiation, resulting in heat generation. 
Photons containing light are converted into electricity or voltage through the PV effect. This was first discovered by Edmund Becquerel, a French physicist, in 1839. Solar panels contain PV cells that convert sunlight into electricity. Individual cells can only generate minimal amounts of electricity. That is why solar panels (or photovoltaic modules) contain multiple solar cells connected together to produce the required amount of electricity. 
These solar PV cells generate maximum electricity output from direct sunlight. However, the thing about solar power is that PV cells can even produce electricity when the sky is cloudy, and small amounts can even be generated by some panels on bright moonlit nights. 
 
Uses of Solar Electricity 
One thing you must remember about solar power is that it can only produce moderate amounts of electricity provided there is ample amount of sunlight available and the area does not have shades that will block sunlight from coming in contact with the panels. Australia is a particularly sunny continent, which means awareness about solar power should be spread with greater fervor here than possibly any other region. 
On a general level, it is suggested that solar electricity provides good value for money only if there is no substitute electricity source available. Having said that, solar electricity as a whole does prove to be cost-effective (not to mention, highly practical) when compared to standard sources of electricity. 
For instance, you can easily install solar panels in places where installing a power source is complex, such as outside the home in the garden shed. Moreover, a regular electricity supply is susceptible to power cuts. But the great thing about solar power is that it provides you with a continuous power source. 
Most importantly, with solar panels in your house, you generate eco-friendly energy. Plus, if you produce more than your average consumption, you can sell the extra supply to electricity companies and earn money via feed-in tariffs. We should not miss out on the economic aspects when talking about solar power. 
 
Conclusion 
You should think about solar power installation in Australia because the local climate allows you to generate decent amounts of electricity for which you wouldn’t have to pay anything. Most importantly, you are actually preserving nature by choosing an energy source that is renewable and emits negligible amounts of carbon as compared to coal. Further information about solar power can easily be extracted from the internet, so don’t wait any longer and get your PV panel today. 

Solar Secure® is a CEC-approved solar retailer, We offer solar panels and energy options for homes and businesses with energy-efficient financing solutions. Call on our 1300 867 328

Solar secure was founded with an objective to spread the power of solar energy across the rooftops in Australia. We serve residential and commercial spaces by designing space, supplying and installation of solar power systems up to 100kW combined with exceptional customer service. Our solar secure specialists will help you in selecting, assessing, and installing the best suitable solar power solution as per your energy needs. We offer 6.6 kW, 10kW and 15 kW system size for commercial and residential solar needs.