What is solar power?

Converting hydrogen into helium (by nuclear fusion), the Sun is releasing radiation power in terms of light and heat. Without this power, no life was possible on Earth. Within a single hour the Sun is radiating more power towards Earth than all of Mankind could consume within a whole year.

What is solar power?

Solar power is the term for power generated by solar cells using the photovoltaic effect. The technical term photovoltaics (Greek: phos, photo- = light and Volt = the physical dimension of electric voltage) is applied to technology for converting solar power into electric direct current (abbrev.: PV).

Which documents do I need for the grid-connection to the power supplier?

Site plan, overview plan of the solar plant including nominal parameters of the individual components, description of the protective installations including specification of type, producer, circuit, and function, declaration of conformity for the inverter, specifications on the short circuit resistance of the switch-gears. Meter request and installation certification. All required documents will be set up and collected by us, on start-up they will be handed over together with the required measuring logs.

How may generated electric power be used?

The electric power may be consumed locally, stored in batteries, or supplied to the public power-grid. By now, the operator of the plant may himself also use the generated power. For this power a refund is paid.

How can I consume my own generated power?

If you want to consume your own generated power, It must be possible to supply this power to the local area grid and to the public grid. The amount of power consumed by you has to be verified to the grid provider. For that you need an additional electricity meter, simply balancing generated power against consumed power is not sufficient. One possible interconnection could look like this: There is one meter monitoring the generated power. Add to it two serially connected meters, an export meter and a reference meter. The grid provider has to be informed of the readings at the export meter. This is getting refunded with 39.14 Ct./kWh. The difference between the meter monitoring the generated power and the export meter is telling how much the household consumed. This consumption is getting refunded with 22.76 Ct./kWh.

Why do I need an inverter?

Solar modules generate direct current. In order to feed power generated by your photovoltaics plant into the public grid, an inverter has to convert direct current into amplifying current.

How much of maintenance will I have to expect?

A photovoltaic plant is operating almost free of maintenance because there are no mobile parts. Occasional monitoring of the performance will indicate whether the plant is still operating without fault. Pollution on the solar modules may reduce the gain, but usually dust and other contaminations are naturally washed off by rain (self-cleaning effect). However, we will gladly offer you a maintenance contract to make sure that your plant will always provide maximum performance.

What will happen to the plant 20 years later?

For the next 20 years, you will receive yields guaranteed by the REA (Regenerative Energies Act). After that, your plant will continue to generate power which your grid supplier will refund. It may be safely assumed that power rates will further increase within the next 20 years, so you may reckon with a yield from your photovoltaic plant even after the end of legally guaranteed refunding.

If at some time you want to exchange installed modules against newer, better performing modules, the old modules will be recycled. Solar modules are containing high-quality silicon and other reusable materials. If you have any further questions, just contact us.

Where can I get solar modules for camping?

If you are looking for solar modules for camping, recreation, and outdoor activities, or solar charge controllers for notebooks, mobile phones, or various minor devices, you will find here a vast selection of conforming stock products: solar modules, solar charge controllers.

Why solar power?

Because solar power is pure and regenerative. It does not only reduce your power bill but also negative effects power generation may have on the environment. Also, photovoltaic modules do not possess any mobile parts or parts wearing off, so that – other than occasional cleaning – they do not need maintenance.

Are solar modules also operating if it is cloudy or rainy?

Yes, solar modules generate power all day. However, at cloudy days the gain is somewhat lower. Gain is dependent on the input of solar irradiation. If you are connected to the public grid, you can sell your power surplus. If the sky is cloudy or rainy, that part of sunlight which accesses the photovoltaic plant is still converted into electric power. If the gain is insufficient, additional power may be drawn from the public grid.

What if the solar modules are shadowed by leaves?

Fallen leaves, shadows, or dirt, increase electric resistance within the solar cells in question, and the capacity of the solar module is reduced. Modules by Mitsubishi Electric are containing a bypass diode which helps to reduce the effects of shadowing.

Is the surface of the solar modules to be cleaned?

Most applications do not need cleaning, for dirt is cleaned off by rain.

What are the advantages of solar power?

Solar power, especially photovoltaics, i.e. the conversion of sunlight into electric power, has many advantages. It is a pure source of power, the consumption does not generate sound, and it needs only minimum maintenance. Investing in solar power is rewarding. With regard to costs, solar power is well competing with other power sources and in addition contributes to reducing the exhaustion of greenhouse gasses. Finally, photovoltaic systems can provide efficient emergency power supply in case of blackouts.

How much power may I save?

Power saving is dependent on local climatic conditions. In Japan, for example, a PV system of 3.12 kW annually save an amount of power that is equivalent to 770 liters of oil.

How does a solar module convert sunlight into electric power?

Photovoltaics make use of the effect that semiconductors such as silicon become electrically conductive when exposed to sunlight. Irradiation of sunlight invokes an electric voltage which can be tapped with metal contacts at the up and bottom sides of the solar cell.

Are there other effects besides the generation of electric power?

F. e. solar modules installed on the roof may keep sunlight from falling on the building. In summer this reduces the load on air conditioners.

Is a solar module a system for generating hot water?

No. SonnenEnergie's solar modules convert sunlight directly into electric power. In contrast, solar collectors convert into heat and transfer this to another medium, p. e. water. The water may then be used for heating.

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