Solar Energy
By: Amanda Campbell
Updated: August 12, 2010
In addition to using natural gas, low sulfur coal, and nuclear power to make electricity, many electricity and gas companies also using renewable energy like the wind and the sun. Applications of renewable energy technologies for typical consumer applications are demonstrated at Energy Park, TXU Electric & Gas' complex for renewable energy located in Dallas, Texas. These include solar-powered security lighting, solar water pumping, solar shingles for typical residential construction, solar gate openers, solar fountain and a small wind turbine for remote residential, farm, and ranch use.
RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS
SOLAR OVEN: The Solar Chef oven may be used to cook any food normally cooked in a household oven. This solar oven would typically be used in circumstances where no traditional heat source for cooking was available. This oven uses simple mirrors to reflect the sun's rays, and uses a glass cover to hold the heat. When an object gets hot, it gives off heat through infrared radiation, and glass reflects infrared. This principle is felt in automobiles left in the sun, where the windows in the car prevent the infrared radiation from leaving the car. The oven will work best in the brightest sun, such as in dry, desert climates or at high altitudes, near the summer solstice.
SOLAR SHINGLES: Shingles show uses of solar energy products that are more typical of those which homeowners might use. The solar shingles are actually photovoltaic materials laminated into shingles. The power from the solar shingles goes to the controller. If power is not needed for immediate consumption by electrical appliances, the controller will direct the power to a set of batteries for storage. If the batteries are fully charged, the power can be sold back to the electric company's electrical power system grid. Each solar shingle is 7 ft. x 1 ft. and contains 12 cells. Each 12-cell shingle produces 17.3 watts.
SOLAR ROOFING: The architectural standing seam-roofing panel is a building-integrated photovoltaic roofing element for residential homes and commercial buildings. It is fabricated using triple-junction amorphous silicon photovoltaic cell material laminated within a weather-resistant plastic (Tefzel) and bonded to conventional metal roof panels. Each solar panel is 9.5 feet x 16 inches and produces 60 watts. The panels are placed on the south side of the building. The north side of the roof does not have solar cells since only southern exposures are useful for solar energy. The DC current produced by the cells is fed to an inverter within the building that converts the solar cell's output into conventional 120-volt power.
RESIDENTIAL SOLAR PANELS: A built-in inverter on the back of the panel changes the DC current to AC output for ease of use for the consumer. The panels can simply be plugged into an outdoor electrical outlet and will automatically supplement the home's electrical needs. Output design is 400 watts DC, or about 350 watts AC.
SOLAR GATE OPENER: The remote controlled gate opener is designed for home, farm and ranch use. Only a little energy is needed to operate a gate opener, and it may be costly to get an electric power line to the location where a gate is needed. The gate operator is powered by a 12-volt, 7.0 amp-hour batter which is charged using a 10-watt solar panel. The battery can be expected to last 3-5 years.
SOLAR SCHOOL CROSSING SIGN: The light is an example of a solar energy product commonly used by school districts. A 77-watt photovoltaic panel converts the sun's energy into a low voltage DC current. The DC current charges two heavy-duty batteries during the day and the batteries supply the energy for the low-power LED flashing lights.
SOLAR PUMP: Many practical applications of solar power can be found in remote areas, where the distance to the nearest electric utility line makes solar a more cost-effective option. Pumping water for cattle or domestic purposes can be accomplished with simple solar-powered water pumps. On a ranch, the water might be pumped from a well, or might be pumped from a stream or stock watering tank. Since water may be needed when the sun doesn't shine, the pump and water storage tank can be made sufficiently large to hold enough water to get through cloudy days and nights. Alternately, one can use larger solar panels or batteries to store electricity.
RESIDENTIAL WIND TURBINES: The Bergey wind turbine shows uses of wind energy products that are more typical of those that consumers might use. This application provides clean, reliable, and cost-effective electrical power to homes, villages, telecommunications sites and other remote facilities. These turbines are often used in rural areas not served by a utility power grid, but can also be grid-connected so homeowners can use them to reduce their electric bill. Wind energy follows seasonal patterns. The best performance is in the winter months.
RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS
SOLAR OVEN: The Solar Chef oven may be used to cook any food normally cooked in a household oven. This solar oven would typically be used in circumstances where no traditional heat source for cooking was available. This oven uses simple mirrors to reflect the sun's rays, and uses a glass cover to hold the heat. When an object gets hot, it gives off heat through infrared radiation, and glass reflects infrared. This principle is felt in automobiles left in the sun, where the windows in the car prevent the infrared radiation from leaving the car. The oven will work best in the brightest sun, such as in dry, desert climates or at high altitudes, near the summer solstice.
SOLAR SHINGLES: Shingles show uses of solar energy products that are more typical of those which homeowners might use. The solar shingles are actually photovoltaic materials laminated into shingles. The power from the solar shingles goes to the controller. If power is not needed for immediate consumption by electrical appliances, the controller will direct the power to a set of batteries for storage. If the batteries are fully charged, the power can be sold back to the electric company's electrical power system grid. Each solar shingle is 7 ft. x 1 ft. and contains 12 cells. Each 12-cell shingle produces 17.3 watts.
SOLAR ROOFING: The architectural standing seam-roofing panel is a building-integrated photovoltaic roofing element for residential homes and commercial buildings. It is fabricated using triple-junction amorphous silicon photovoltaic cell material laminated within a weather-resistant plastic (Tefzel) and bonded to conventional metal roof panels. Each solar panel is 9.5 feet x 16 inches and produces 60 watts. The panels are placed on the south side of the building. The north side of the roof does not have solar cells since only southern exposures are useful for solar energy. The DC current produced by the cells is fed to an inverter within the building that converts the solar cell's output into conventional 120-volt power.
RESIDENTIAL SOLAR PANELS: A built-in inverter on the back of the panel changes the DC current to AC output for ease of use for the consumer. The panels can simply be plugged into an outdoor electrical outlet and will automatically supplement the home's electrical needs. Output design is 400 watts DC, or about 350 watts AC.
SOLAR GATE OPENER: The remote controlled gate opener is designed for home, farm and ranch use. Only a little energy is needed to operate a gate opener, and it may be costly to get an electric power line to the location where a gate is needed. The gate operator is powered by a 12-volt, 7.0 amp-hour batter which is charged using a 10-watt solar panel. The battery can be expected to last 3-5 years.
SOLAR SCHOOL CROSSING SIGN: The light is an example of a solar energy product commonly used by school districts. A 77-watt photovoltaic panel converts the sun's energy into a low voltage DC current. The DC current charges two heavy-duty batteries during the day and the batteries supply the energy for the low-power LED flashing lights.
SOLAR PUMP: Many practical applications of solar power can be found in remote areas, where the distance to the nearest electric utility line makes solar a more cost-effective option. Pumping water for cattle or domestic purposes can be accomplished with simple solar-powered water pumps. On a ranch, the water might be pumped from a well, or might be pumped from a stream or stock watering tank. Since water may be needed when the sun doesn't shine, the pump and water storage tank can be made sufficiently large to hold enough water to get through cloudy days and nights. Alternately, one can use larger solar panels or batteries to store electricity.
RESIDENTIAL WIND TURBINES: The Bergey wind turbine shows uses of wind energy products that are more typical of those that consumers might use. This application provides clean, reliable, and cost-effective electrical power to homes, villages, telecommunications sites and other remote facilities. These turbines are often used in rural areas not served by a utility power grid, but can also be grid-connected so homeowners can use them to reduce their electric bill. Wind energy follows seasonal patterns. The best performance is in the winter months.
