Is Your Site Suitable for Solar Panels?

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Solar energy is increasing in popularity, especially with the potential for rebates and tax incentives. The federal government is offering a 30 percent tax credit this year for installing solar systems. Each state has its own legislation to encourage the development of solar and other options. Be sure to check any requirements before installing a solar system.

To evaluate whether solar panels will be suitable for your location, there are some critical factors to consider. In the U.S., we have enough direct and scattered sunlight to support photovoltaic, or PV modules, and produce electricity using solar resources. But the amount of electricity that can be created depends upon the amount of energy from the sun that reaches these solar units. Obviously, in the southwestern region of the U.S., where the sun’s rays are strongest, solar energy systems will be most efficient.

When thinking about the purchase of solar panels, the first issue to determine is whether you’ll be able to create enough solar energy to make your system economical and efficient. Perhaps not all of your solar electricity can be generated through photovoltaics, but you’ll want to be able to create enough power to make this system worthwhile. Perform an analysis, or have a qualified contractor do one for you to be certain that your location is appropriate for a solar system.

There are a number of factors to consider, including the angle of the solar arrays and the surrounding landscaping. The most effective positioning for panels in the U.S. and Canada is facing south, but they can be positioned up to 45 degrees east or west of true south and still be effective.

Most people choose to mount the arrays flat on the roof, and that means further considerations, such as the angle and condition of the roof, the position the roof faces, any landscaping (including trees) that might block sunlight, and weather conditions that could have a bearing on electricity production.

If using your roof isn’t feasible, there are still other options, including placing the system on the ground or a platform. Panels can be fixed on a “tracking” mount that follows the sun. The best tilt for your modules is an angle equal to your latitude.

So even if your property isn’t optimal for a roof mount, solar arrays might still prove an attractive option to the local utility.  As long as there is enough sunlight, the possibility of more creative panel placement exists.  And as the technology continues to improve and costs decrease, and the government creates incentives toinstall solar, this will become an attractive alternative.

The Solar America Initiative

The Solar America Initiative (SAI) accelerates the development of photovoltaic (also known as PV or solar electricity) technologies with the goal of making solar electricity from PV cost competitive with conventional grid electricity by 2015. SAI works through partnerships between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and industry, universities, federal, state, and local government, and non-governmental agencies to achieve the goal of lower-cost solar energy.

The mission of the Solar America Initiative is to help lower the cost of solar electricity so that it is cost-competitive across all U.S. market sectors by 2015. The Solar America Initiative ensures domestic production of solar technologies. Decentralized energy supplies such as photovoltaics (PV), diversifies the nation’s electricity portfolio, enhances grid reliability, and reduces the impact of a failure of the U.S. centralized electricity infrastructure. The Solar America Initiative also brings significant environmental gains and reduced water consumption by avoiding fossil fuel, nuclear, and natural gas generation.

By 2015, photovoltaics will:

• Provide 5-10 gigawatts of new electric capacity (enough to power 1-2 million homes) to the U.S. grid

• Avoid 10 million metric tons per year of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions

• Employ 30,000 new workers in the PV industry.

Goals

The primary goal of the Solar America Initiative is to ensure that solar energy technologies will play a growing role in U.S. energy supplies and the U.S. economy by making the technology cost-competitive in the near future.

Secondary goals are to achieve market competitiveness for the following technologies:

• Photovoltaics (PV) by 2015 through government partnerships with industry, universities, national laboratories, states, and other public entities

• Concentrating solar power systems by 2020 through ongoing and new research and development (R&D) activities.

Objectives

Current objectives include the following:

• Fill the industry R&D pipeline for next-generation, low-cost, scaleable products

• Establish a framework for university involvement in the Solar America Initiative

• Calibrate the National Renewable Energy Laboratory research portfolio and role for the future

• Ramp up testing and evaluation for development and qualification

• Catalyze the collaboration on industry-wide issues such as codes and standards

• Expand U.S. policy and regulatory measures.

Approach

The Solar America Initiative is a two-pronged approach emphasizing the following activities:

• (R&D) Research and Development in material sciences and solar manufacturing processes
• Market transformation to remove barriers to the acceptance of new solar technologies in the marketplace.

Solar America Initiative partners include:

• The solar industry

• National laboratories

• Universities

• Federal, state, and city governments

• Non-governmental agencies

• Solar advocacy groups

National laboratories of the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) continue to provide needed R&D.They will serve in key technical roles in areas such as measurements and characterization, reliability R&D, and systems integration.

The Solar America Initiative’s approach represents a fundamental shift in how the DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Program does business. Previously, DOE emphasized solar energy R&D, with a goal of expanding impact through improved component performance. The Solar America Initiative emphasizes industry partnerships and alliances to accelerate market-ready photovoltaics using aggressive cost goals, down-selects, and a new focus on eliminating manufacturing, production, and non-technical marketplace barriers.

Malibu 3 Tier Solar Walk Lights with Remote Panel 4 pk Black

Sold as each. White LED. Metal. Black finish. Includes AA NiCad rechargeable batteries. 4 pack. Boxed . Manufacturer’s number: LZ13RP4. Buy Hardware Supplies SKU #: 3204856. Country of origin: China. Distributed by Intermatic, Inc.

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Sunsei Solar Panel Pole Mounting Kit For SE 4000 SE 6000 SE 8000 Solar Panels 71102

So you want to mount your spanking new, sun-sucking, Sunsei SE 4000 / 6000/ 8000 on the rail, upright bar, beam or post (7/8 or 1″) of your boat, RV or cabin? Great idea. You take a more hands-on approach, you want to be able to manipulate your Sunsei solar panel at will.Sunsei Pole Mounting Kit lets you mount your Sunsei solar panel hassle-free without drilling your deck or roof. Talk about sturdy - this mount is manufactured with premium marine-grade stainless steel to withstand wind, sea and bird poop.

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Woods Industries 95888 Moonrays Ashbury 8 pack of Black Solar Plastic Fixtures

This set of 8 traditional path light fixtures helps to illuminate any area that needs added safety. They nicely mark the edge of a driveway or sidewalk, garden steps or swimming pool perimeter. The two-tiered, black fixtures have one amber LED and cast a soft glow, blending into the landscape of any home. Fixtures have durable plastic construction for longevity in all weather conditions.

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