Sean Si, Author at Solar Panels Philippines

So, Do Solar Panels Work at Night?

How do solar panels work at night?

Through net metering
Through the use of solar energy storage technologies, or batteries

In the Philippines, the price of solar panels has decreased significantly. But are they of any use to homeowners and businesses at night?

It’s safe to say that the consumers have acknowledged the importance of sunlight in order to make the solar panels work and provide sufficient electricity supply to them. But we still need electricity at night, if only to power electric fans or air conditioners while we slumber. It can’t be avoided that there is concern as to the usability of solar energy at night, as there is no sunlight during this time.

Do solar panels work at night? If so, how?

There are two main ways to make solar panels work at night: through net metering and solar energy storage technology or batteries. Both allow consumers to access energy from the solar panels even without the sun on the rise.

Net Metering

Net metering makes solar panels a huge investment for consumers. It allows consumers to earn from their excess energy supply during the day, and maintains a connection to the grid during nighttime.

The process works like this: you keep the connection between you and the grid, while you also install the solar panels. So when the weather’s not good that there’s not enough sunlight for the solar panels to convert into electricity, your electricity supply can be taken from the grid. On the other hand, whenever your solar panels receive more sunlight, the excess electricity can be delivered to the grid. From there, you may earn credits that you can use during the night.

It can also be said that the grid serves as an energy storage for solar panels.

Solar Energy Storage

Another way to make solar panels work during the night is through solar energy storage such as batteries. These can be requested from your solar panel provider to include during installation.

Batteries are widely used compared to net metering, as the latter is not entirely available all over the world.

Are there other ways to further utilize solar panels at night?

As far as solar panels are concerned, various researches are being conducted all over the world to make the said technology work all night long.

These researches include prototypes, concepts, and technologies that are not only cost-efficient but also available in flexible materials for energy harvesting. One study, as The Solar Company writes, involved the use of “…embedding square spirals of conducting metal onto a sheet of plastic (called nanoantennas.”

Through these nanoantennas, solar panels are able to absorb UV light and infrared energy. Infrared energy is basically what the Earth has absorbed from the sun even after it has set. When combined with stored solar energy, the nanoantennas can have higher efficiency levels than the standard solar cells.

Key Takeaway

The short answer is yes, solar panels work at night – given that there’s enough stored energy to convert into electricity. However, with regards to its capability of generating energy during night is simply “possible” – given that researches are still being conducted and nothing’s definite as of now. Only time can tell what’s in the future of solar panels.

What’s Up? A Sneak Peek on 2017 Solar Panels

What’s new with solar panels?

The newest record of 26.3% solar cell efficiency by a group of researchers and the Kaneka Corporation
The newly discovered use of manganese atoms in replacement to traditional silicon-based solar cells by the University of Wyoming professors

Solar systems in the Philippines and around the world are becoming more accessible and affordable. While the solar panels has become cheaper in the market, the installation costs is still a point of consideration to homeowners. The thing is, the efficiency of the solar panels can easily make up for the initial costs.

With that said, it’s no surprise that various researches are being conducted to create better solar panels. This quest to finding solutions that can convert sunlight into electricity even more efficiently is definitely something to look forward to.

But while they’re at it, let’s take a sneak peek on what’s happening with 2017’s solar panels.

The newest record of solar cell efficiency by a group of researchers and the Kaneka Corporation

As studies show, silicon-based cells, those that make up solar panels and convert sunlight into electricity, can reach up to a maximum efficiency level of 29%. However, this number has not yet made it into the commercial scene.

Earlier this year, a group of researchers funded by the Japanese chemical manufacturer, Kaneka Corporation, has made it in the headlines due to an industrially compatible developed solar cells which moved the bar of solar efficiency to a 26.3% from the previously recorded efficiency of 25.6%.

The said research has been submitted to Japan’s Nature Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and was recognized by the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). As written in the paper, the researchers used a high-quality thin-film heterojunction (HJ) and built a 180.4cm². The thin-film is used to layer the silicon within the cell to reduce the band gaps where electron states cannot exist. Controlling heterojunction, on the other hand, is known to be a popular technique among solar builders, including Panasonic, Tesla, and Kaneka to name a few.

More so, the said researchers has included low-resistance electrodes to further maximize the number of photons collected inside the solar cell. In order to protect the cells, they also used amorphous silicon and an anti-reflective layer for the coating.

Furthermore, it was also noted that the solar cell was made through “industrially compatible” processes, thereby ensuring people that this can be possible in the market as well.

The newly discovered use of manganese atoms in replacement of traditional silicon-based solar cells

In a recent study conducted by a group of University of Wyoming professors, it was found that a new material can improve the efficiency level of solar cells. While they expected only a good 4% increase, the solar cell efficiency has unexpectedly rise to an average 300% – or 700%, at maximum.

The research was made possible by University of Wyoming professors, Jinke Tang and Yuri Dahnovsky, and funded by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Basic Energy Sciences. This is in line to the office’s program on supporting researches about understanding, forecasting, and controlling matter and energy in discovering new energy technologies.

What made the increase possible? As stated by Dahnovsky, “We added 4% manganese atoms into the PbS quantum dot. With that, we only expected a 4% increase in the solar efficiency. However, it turns out that the efficiency level has increased to 700% – that’s unusual!”

He also explained that it was unusual given that electrons tunneling between zinc and manganese atoms was easier than lead and zinc atoms between a quantum dot and a semiconductor.

The good news here is, this newly found material can contribute to prolonging the life of solar panels, and therefore, could lead to a good alternative for energy supply in remote areas.
Key Takeaway

From these researches, it can be seen that the quest for high efficiency solar cells will not only revolve around increasing what studies show as the maximum limit of solar cells efficiency but also, to new, better solar technologies. If you haven’t yet, check out the benefits of solar panels in your home.

Our Humble Beginnings: Teaching Filipinos How to Use Solar Energy in the Philippines

Why would a solar energy company in the Philippines teach its trade secrets and know-how to the general public?

Here is our backstory:

Four years ago, my wife and I wanted guilt-free air conditioning using the sun without batteries. (We had some energy management experience doing aerospace projects in the US and assembled a 3kW mini rooftop solar plant to see what happens.) What happened is that we switched one of the country’s homes to send its surplus solar energy back to the grid and worked with Meralco so they can credit us the kWh we send their way and the City of Makati for all that building official stuff on what to be the next wave of solar technology known as grid tied with Net Metering, NM.

It was an exciting learning process for all to get NM with serial number #00001 going.

You can learn more about this story on this page.

Solar back in 2013 was starting to make economic sense vs. escalating grid power costs as solar panel prices in the Philippines have crashed because of decades of efforts from First World countries to adopt in mass scale with generous subsidies. It is the convergence of declining manufacturing costs from Asia suppliers and the absurdly high rates of power in the Philippines that made it viable then and even more pertinent today.

Right now, solar energy is the fastest riser in Global energy production and countries are adopting it as it is a race against time because of climate change and rising carbon emissions from unbridled industrialization. Countries like China and Britain are junking coal all together and installing GW of Solar as if there is no tomorrow. They had solid awareness on what green power can do, and how it can replace energy stalwarts like coal and nuclear.

It takes more than lowered costs to get a new technology out, it is the education on how the technology works, separating fact from myth, how can one benefit from it, and since installing solar takes a fair amount of technical skill—basic bedrock of fundamentals is needed.

After seeing a number of do-it-yourself builds fail spectacularly, we realized that the industry needed help to avoid problems and accidents. So we developed our Solar 101 and 202 curriculum using real world input from foreign experts, actual installation or design scenarios, and mercilessly removed the markety scams and false economy solar builds, such as urban solar street lamps out the window and designed a solar course that has purely the consumers’ interests in mind.

We have been doing the seminar for 3 years, we have seen all kinds of people walk-in including Senators, Energy policy makers, contractors, homeowners, businessmen, factory owners, engineers, housewives, and your basic electrical contractor (who now does solar kaya ice plant with our training).

Our business coach said it is madness to teach potential competitors about installing solar, but we said Nobody can monopolize the sun and our country needs this technology to be available and implementable as soon as possible. What happened is that we trained over 1000 people from Batanes to Zamboanga on how to install solar panels and have resulted in MW’s of installed capacity that can easily dwarf the largest of malls, and this momentum is growing.

The only thing that is as infinite as the energy of the Sun, is the Filipinos desire to learn, start a new business or find pragmatic solutions to heavy problems like Global warming or guilt-free air conditioning.

Our next Solar 101 and 202 seminar is on September 23 and 24 course details and cost are found at this page.

For more information you can call us at 09178603141 or at 5040092. You can also email us at info@solaric.com.ph.

3 Easy Hacks for Boosting Solar Cell Efficiency

3 Easy Hacks on Boosting Solar Cell Efficiency

How can solar cell efficiency be improved?

Invest on a quality solar panel.
Make sure the panels get enough sun exposure.
Orient the solar arrays in the direction and angle that it can receive sunlight better.

Common solar cell efficiency may vary from around 10% to 20%. More and more people are installing solar panel system in order to minimize their electricity bills. A common concern is whether the price of a solar panel in the Philippines affects its efficiency.

So, how do you make sure that your affordable solar panels are working efficiently, and are producing maximum output to meet your needs? Here’s a few hacks to help you achieve that.

Make sure you’re investing on a quality solar panel.

Similar to buying the best meat for your family dinner, purchasing a panel for your solar PV system needs a bit of canvassing. A lot of research and thought needs to be put into it before deciding first, whether a solar panel system is right for you, and second, which is the best one. You can start by asking those in your network who already have solar panels installed. You can also browse the internet to find a ton of information on which particular panels are high-quality yet affordable.

Most solar panels today are made of silicon. This information can help you narrow down your options, and get directly to the types of silicon solar panels. There’s crystalline, monocrystalline, and polycrystalline – they differ on how silicon is used, its purity, and of course, the price.

For some, monocrystalline solar panels are better than polycrystalline as it is more heat tolerant and has a higher efficiency level especially in the tropics.

Beware of shades

Sun exposure plays a huge role to your solar panel’s efficiency and output. Because efficiency refers to the total percentage of the sun’s energy that solar cells accumulates to convert into electricity, it obviously relies on direct sunlight. Output, on the other hand, is the electricity that the solar array generates from the sunlight. The lesser the sun exposure, the lower the efficiency level.

This is particularly important in solar cells that are connected in a series. This is because when a single cell is shaded, it can decrease the output of its neighboring cells in the series.

In order to prevent such situation, make sure you install your solar PV system in a spot where absolutely nothing will block the sun rays.

Direction and angles matter.

When installing solar PV systems, it’s important to take the direction and angles of the panels into account as this can affect the efficiency of the arrays. If you get to orient the panels in the right direction and angle, there’s no more need to worry anymore about the sunlight that it receives in a day.

Additionally, the position and location of your home matters to the alignment of your solar system. Expert solar installers will know how to mount your solar arrays, hence, make sure to purchase your solar panels from a quality company that offers the instalment of the unit.

Key Takeaway

Increasing efficiency ensures that you get the maximum output from your solar PV system. Through these simple ways, not only can you make sure that your solar arrays are efficient enough to produce more than enough energy for your household needs, but that they can also be relied on for a longer time.

What Would Be The World Like If It Ran Only On Solar Power?

In today’s world, more and more countries are now using various forms of renewable energy as a major power source. These forms of energy include geothermal energy, wind energy, tidal energy, and solar energy. These energy sources have been proven to be viable and legitimate power sources, with the high possibility of replacing other non-renewable forms of energy in the future.Some countries have used a combination of these energy sourcesand they are enjoying the benefits of being able to use the same amount of energywhile spending less and keeping the environment clean.

One of the most popular forms of renewable energy is solar power, which has become more available and accessible than before. Solar panels are now being produced at a higher rate in countries like the United States, Germany, and China – whichare also the countries that use up a high amount of solar energy. As solar energy use becomes more common, there are some people that are wondering how the world would look like if it ran on renewable energy sources like solar power.

Renewable Energy Trailblazers

While the amount of renewable energy usage across the world is still minimal compared to the usage of regular forms of energy, there are a number of countries that have been going green on their energy for the past decade. One country that has been leading the way for the past few years is Germany, which is the world’s leading user of solar energy. Germany uses over 35 Gigawatts worth of renewable energyand has been proven to be able to provide a healthy share of energy in various areas of the country.

The United States of America is another example of a country that has been harnessing the power of solar energy. While their renewable energy resources aren’t as large compared to the rest of the pack, the number of projects related to it have increased in number. The country aims to use more green energy by the next decade.

Another country that has been using solar energy for a long time is Japan. Japan was the first country to integrate solar energy into their main power grid. While they may have slowed down with their renewable energy projects in the past few years due to their nuclear program, Japan has been commissioning new projects to increase their usage and reliance on renewable energy.

Another Asian country that has been utilizing solar energy more and more is China, which is one of the leading solar panel providers in the world. Like the United States of America, they have been using conventional power sources for a long time, which has been causing unwanted pollution in the country. With various companies in the country manufacturing a high amount of solar panels, China expects to increase the number of the total solar panels being used as a part of their national power grid.

Other than these four nations, other countries like Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Honduras, Uruguay, and Nicaragua have also made massive strides when it comes to renewable energy usage. With these set of countries leading the way, other nations might want to learn from their practicesand welcome renewable energy in the country.

Producing Results

In terms of numbers being produced, renewable energy has been deliveredand has even satisfied the power neededto their respective countries. Here are some incredible statistics that can help make you see that renewable energy sources would be the future of energy.

With these kinds of statistics, renewable energy is going on an upward trend during the recent years, and with more projects along the way, expect more countries to become reliant on renewable energy.

Solar Energy Milestones

Over the years, solar energy has achieved numerous milestones in terms of usage and development. Here are some milestones solar power has achieved over the years:

A Solar World?

With the various numbers that have been presented in this article, is it possible to have the world that is entirely reliant on solar energy? With so many countries having energy milestones on single types of renewable energy, why not? The advent of solar energy proved to the world that using energy from the sun is not only environmentally friendly and safe, but it also showed that it can be relied upon as a primary source of energy in the near future. However, before envisioning the world that only uses solar energy, let’s try imagining a single country first.

For a country to rely on solar energy alone, they must have an area that is wide enough to place a good amount of solar panels. The farther you spread out your solar panels, the more energy you can get. With the quality of solar panels improving, which leads to higher conversion rates, all you need would be a healthy amount of sunlight regularly. Even without a large land area, solar panels can be installed easily on various types of infrastructure like houses and buildings, which makes them the most convenient form of renewable energy available. With their accessibility and ease of construction, it will not be surprising to see cities covered in solar panels in the near future.

If it is possible for a single city and country to rely entirely on solar energy, it would not be farfetched to see countries adopting it as their main power source. While this is an undertaking that would not happen overnight, it is a project that would see the overall phasing out of traditional power sources, which can take a few years depending on the number of power plants that will be phased out. While this may seem like a Herculean task for the world to do, with cooperation and coordination from the government and various corporations, it can be a project that is highly possible.

Solar Power in the Next Decade

With the rise of renewable energy sources, countries around the world would be looking to phase out their traditional power sources. It will not be surprising to see at least 20 or more countries around the world to rely on renewable energy for 90% of their major power needs. With other green energy trends in different sectors like manufacturing and transportation, a world with efficient energy usage will become a reality.With the recent Paris Conference, countries have been establishing their green energy choices that they should achieve in the next few years.

Myth vs. Fact: Questions on Solar Energy Answered

When it comes to renewable energy, one of the most popular options over the years has been solar energy. Solar energy has become one of the most reliable and efficient power sources in various countries across the world. In fact, some of these countries have seen a good percentage of their power come from solar energy, which has been proven to power up significant segments of cities and towns. Recently, countries have been achieving numerous milestones when it comes to the usage of renewable energy, which has proven its worth.

However, despite the many benefits of using solar energy, some people still have their doubts. With most of the world inclined with using conventional power sources for the longest time, some feel that renewable energy sources would not be able to produce the same amount of power as they did.

Given this along with other renewable and solar energy facts has made pushing the idea challenging. While the opinion on renewable energy has improved, there are still some groups and media outlets that spread numerous myths and misconceptions. To address these myths, here are some answers with regards to the many solar energy myths.

Myth #1: Solar energy cannot be used during the night

Perhaps the most common misconception of all, since solar energy harnesses energy from sunlight, many people believed that it would not be able to supply power during night time. This becomes one of the main reasons why people are hesitant with using solar power.

FACT: Despite what most people believe, solar energy does work during the night. While they may no longer be able to receive sunlight for energy, many solar devices have enough energy in store for them to be able to supply energy during the night.

Myth #2: Solar panels are expensive

Another reason why people are hesitant when it comes to investing in solar energy is that of the perceived high costs.

FACT: While this may have been true during the early years of solar energy development, the costs have decreased by a significant margin over the past few years. There a good number of reasons why the prices of solar panels have gone down, and these include the increased demand from various sectors along with the reduced costs of manufacturing it. Additionally, compared to other forms of renewable energy, solar energy is the most convenient and accessible.

Myth #3: Solar energy is not efficient in reducing pollution

The goal of all kinds of renewable energy is to provide the same amount of energy that conventional power sources can give, while also being more environmentally friendly and clean.

FACT: As a response to this, solar energy greatly reduces the amount of pollution for they emit smaller amounts of greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels.

Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources barely have any emissions and these emissions do not cause the same amount of environmental damage that fossil fuels bring. With the rest of the world aiming to prevent further damage to the environment, using solar energy is one of the best solutions.

Myth #4: Solar panels work better in hotter climates

Given that solar panels get their energy from the sun, it is an energy source that can be used by the world’s tropical countries. Due to the fact that they get more sunlight compared to most countries, it is assumed that solar energy will work better in tropical countries.

FACT: While there are a good number of tropical countries that use solar power, higher temperatures actually lower the efficiency of solar panels. Photovoltaic solar panels make use of the sunlight to get energy, not the heat.

Myth #5: Solar panels do not work well in colder climates

Since solar energy is generated from sunlight, it is assumed that solar panels would not work as well in colder countries. While this may seem the case, due to the lesser amount of sunlight exposure that these countries get, this is not the case.

FACT: In fact, countries that have colder climates make solar panels more efficient. This is due to the fact that colder temperatures increase the conductivity of solar panels, which make them perform better. If you have a set of solar panels during a cold and sunny day, then you are ensured that you would be able to get the best out of your solar panels.

Myth #6: Solar panels need constant maintenance

Since solar panels are a relatively new piece of technology, people assume that they are more fragile and harder to maintain compared to conventional power sources. Despite these assumptions, they are not as fragile as they seem to be.

FACT: Solar panels are actually more durable than they look. Due to the fact that they are installed outdoors, it is expected that they are exposed to the elements. With this in mind, solar panels were made to be weatherproof, which enables them to work even during the most extreme conditions. For maintenance concerns, it is recommended that you have your panels checked annually for any issues and concerns.

Myth #7: Solar panels can damage my roof

Since solar panels are required to cover up a good portion of your roof, people are concerned that the installation of solar panels may cause damage and fatigue to the roofs of houses. This damage to any structure can cause numerous inconveniences to the people residing in it.

FACT: Contrary to these beliefs, solar panels can actually help in preserving and protecting your roof. This can help protect your roof from the elements and make it last longer. People who install these solar panels are also trained professionals, who know how to properly place and angle these solar panels to become more efficient. Of course, it is important to make sure that the roof in which the panels would be installed are damage-free to prevent further concerns.

Myth #8: Solar panels require tracking systems so that they follow the angle of the sun

Solar panels work best when they are angled in a way that they receive the highest amount of sunlight. Since the sun moves constantly during the day, tracking devices are required to help them readjust.

FACT: While it is true that the angles of a solar panel need to be adjusted accordingly, it is not required that you constantly readjust your solar panels. Solar panels are already adjusted to receive the most amount of sunlight that they can in the position that they are in, so constant shifting may lead to times of the day where you would not receive enough energy.

Key Takeaway

Solar energy is the most popular form of renewable energy available, which leads to so many questions about its durability and reliability. Luckily, today’s set of solar panels is durable, reliable, and efficient enough to address your power needs. If you are looking to install some solar panels in your home, you are making a good investment that would benefit you and the environment.

Bask in Rays: Why Getting Some Sunlight Is Good for You

What are the benefits of sunlight to your body?

Getting Vitamin D – Sunlight gives vitamin D to the body, which improves bone health, blood pressure, and increase brain activity.
Gives you energy – Going out in the sun normalizes your sleep schedule and gives your body an energy boost.
Improves fertility – Men receive increased testosterone levels, while women are more fertile during summer seasons.
Curing Depression – Getting sunlight boost your mood, and makes surethat you do not get SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

More and more people are learning about the benefits of using solar power in the business or even at home. And with solar panel prices in the Philippines becoming more affordable, it would not be surprising to see it commonplace in the near future.

It’s not just technology that can get energy from the sun. We could benefit from basking in a some sunrays too! Here are some reasons why getting some sunlight is good for your body.

Getting some Vitamin D

Solar panels harness energy from the sun to produce electricity. The human skin, meanwhile, gets a nice dose of vitamins with just enough sunlight. Getting the right amount of sunlight give your body Vitamin D, which is an essential element in your body’s nutrition. Vitamin D provides several health benefits, including bone health, lowering blood pressure, and increasing brain activity. Getting some vitamin D also lowers the risk of getting diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
body.

Gives you energy

Other than getting a healthy dose of vitamins, getting sunlight also energizes your body. Melatonin is the hormone in your body that regulates your sleep cycle. Getting sunlight signals the brain and the pineal gland to stop the production of melatonin. This will normalize a person’s sleep cycle, while also giving them a nice energy boost during the day. With this in mind, going out to get some sun on your work or school break gives your body that needed energy boost to get you through the rest of the day.
body.

Improves fertility

Melatonin is not only a hormone that regulates the body’s sleep cycle, but it also boosts fertility. Getting sunlight is helps increase the overall length of being fertile by a number of years. For the males, sun exposure boosts testosterone levels. This is one of the reasons why the summer season is a great time to start a family.

Mood Lifter

Not getting enough sunlight can cause your body to have SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is a form of depression caused by the lack of sunlight, and is very common for people who work long hours inside an office with no natural light. If you notice you’ve been feeling down and sluggish lately, try going outside during the day to give your body a healthy dose of serotonin, a hormone that lifts up your mood.

Even with all the benefits above, it is important to protect your skin when going out for long periods of time. Applying sunscreen on your skin protects you from UV rays which can harm your skin. The best times to go out and get sunlight without risking skin cancer are during the early hours of the morning.

Just like how solar energy can power a home or business, sunlight gives a good amount of benefits to your body. Normalizing your sleep schedule, getting an energy boost, increased fertility, and boosting your overall mood… the benefits make it really worth it to get out and get sunlight every now and then. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Proudly Pinoy: Solar Cars in the Philippines

What are examples of solar vehicles in the Philippines?

De La Salle Solar Car Project – The De La Salle University created the first solar car in the country, and is continuously undergoing development
Bangkarwayan – The uncanny creation of a university Professor is a solar car that, in theory, can traverse land and water

It might not be apparent, but there has been a gradual increase in the number of active solar panels in the Philippines. In addition to solar power becoming an increasingly popular energy providing alternative in the country, there are also several other solar projects that have come to form.

One of the more well-known projects has to do with making vehicles that are powered by solar energy. Some of these sustainable projects have gained recognition and praise internationally. Here are two of the most well-known solar vehicles that are proudly pinoy.

De La Salle Solar Car Project

Since 2007, the De La Salle University has had 3 solar car projects (with a fourth one coming in 2017). These cars were made by students and faculty from the university’s mechanical engineering department. The first solar car of the university SINAG (a Filipino word which means “sun rays”), introduced in 2007. It was the first of its kind in the Philippines, and represented our country at the World Solar Challenge in Australia in the same year. They landed 12^th place out of 40 competitors. The competition pits various solar cars across the world against each other in a grueling 3,000km course which aims to push the vehicles performance to the maximum.

The second project, named Sikat (“sunrise”), was completed in 2009. It was used in promoting the country’s bid to host the World Solar Challenge, but it did not compete. The 3^rd project, named Sikat II, was completed in 2013. It competed in that year’s edition of the World Solar Challenge in Australia, where it placed 3^rd in the Adventure class. With the success of these solar car projects, the university aims to create a 4^th project, which may compete internationally again.

The Bangkarwayan

Perhaps one of the most unorthodox vehicles to be ever created, the Bangkarwayan is a solar powered vehicle created and owned by UP Professor Benjamin Mangubat. The car was made out of indigenous materials like rattan and bamboo, and had a dark brown color scheme to make it look more “retro”. It harnesses power from the solar panels installed on the roof. The unusual car was made to be able to navigate on land and water, due to the flotation devices and boat propeller attached to the vehicle. It took six years for Mangubat to complete the vehicle, which has now become of the more popular sights in Manila.

While solar power continues to become more abundant and popular in the country, more companies would look into the possibility of producing solar-powered vehicles like cars, tricycles, buses, and trains in the near future. With more solar-powered vehicles roaming around in the country, it is possible to see a clean future where the use of renewable energy would be the norm. Do you see yourself driving or riding a solar-powered vehicle in the future?

Paving the Way: 5 of the Most Solar-Friendly Countries

Which countries in the world are the most solar-friendly?

Germany – The current leader in solar power usage, Germany has over 30GW worth of solar power used to power up most of the country.
Italy – The country has seen a rise in solar power usage after years of using imported natural gases.
China – The largest solar panel producer in the world has increased their solar power usage over the years.
United States – With a number of businesses and government projects using solar energy, the United States aims to increase their usage in the upcoming years.
Japan – Once the world leader in solar energy, the country aims to develop more solar panels after disaster devastated their nuclear program.

The prices of solar panels in the Philippines are becoming more and more affordable, making a transition to using renewable energy a more variable option with every day that passes. With the ability to convert the sun’s rays to electricity, solar energy is being now being seen as a major energy resource around the globe.

While a lot of countries are just scratching the surface on the use of solar power, these countries listed below have been paving the way when it comes to integrating solar energy into their respective power supplies.

Germany

Germany has become the world leader in solar power usage. In terms of total usage, Germany has over 30 gigawatts of installed solar capacity. In May 2017, Germany was able to generate 85 percent of its power from renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass, hydroelectric power, and solar energy. This was made possible by the country’s commitment to turning renewable energy as their primary energy source. Non-renewable energy sources such as coal and nuclear energy are slowly being phased out, with the intention of completely shutting them down.

Italy

Being a country with no fossil fuel resources, Italy has steadily increased their solar energy usage over the past few years. This is a practical choice after years of relying on imported natural gas as a major power source. The government of Italy has also implemented various incentive schemes to further encourage the development and use of renewable energy.

China

The country with the largest population in the world is also one of the countries that has seen steady growth in the number of solar power installations in the past few years. The increase of solar panel installations can be attributed to their low cost and availability in the country. Being the largest producer of solar panels in the world, China aims to increase their renewable energy supply in the near future.

United States

Granted, the United States has been the world leader in the usage in non-renewable energy. However, the powerful country has reached a number of solar power milestones and an increase of renewable energy usage. Various companies, along with the government, have transitioned to installing and relying on solar panels. With the number of solar panel projects increasing in the country, the United States aims to catch up and become one of the biggest users of this sustainable energy.

Japan

Japan was the first country in the world to reach 1 GW, and became one of the leaders in solar power during the 90s and the early 2000s. This slowed down for several years due to the expansion of nuclear power. In 2012, Japan renewed their focus on solar energy plants after the devastating 2011 earthquake caused damage to their nuclear power plants. Once a world leader, Japan looks to become one again in the future.

Key Takeaway

With many of the world’s most powerful countries turning to the use of renewable energy, the practice is slowly making its way to other countries. For third-world countries like the Philippines, solar power is at its early stages but has the potential to grow at a steady rate. Have you made the transition yet?

Introduction to Solar 101 and 202 Installer Classes

How to create value is the best way to start a business.

The installation of solar power, together with the price of solar panels in the Philippines, has come down so low these days that any business or astute homeowner should start counting the wealth of energy that falls on their roof and use that to pay down the electric bill.

Using solar energy to fuel your own personal power plant is is the ingenuity and adaptation that drives the Filipino Economy for self reliance and lower energy costs.

It is in our nature to create value in everything we do. Installing solar and paying less than P2 pesos a kWh is just smart since there is no escaping an electric bill until now and burning more coal these days is just dumb.

At Solaric, we are realists and renewable energy professionals. We have a different approach in bringing mass adaptation of Solar throughout the Philippines and that is through our Solar installer and pro user education programs called Solar 101 and Solar 202.

Our graduates have powered entire factories and many homes with our Philippine solar power systems and designs from straight from class notes and our renowned engineering support to confidently energize your project.

In the past three years we have condensed a weeklong US solar installer training program and experience of doing hundreds of installations into a weekend seminar covering theory, practical design, system sizing, safety and live installation of real gear.

Pertinent topics that cover the Philippines such as black out run capable systems, ROI calculations, and Net Metering so you don’t have to buy batteries are discussed in an open forum manner.

These are topics that any serious businessman or astute housewife should know before spending thousands on a solar system that can power a refrigerator to an escalator.

Our Solar 101 and 202 seminars is a semi technical course that allows any college level person or engineer to understand the practical aspects of Philippine solar systems and how it can economically bring down electricity bills, replace diesel generation and most importantly teach the average consumer or policy maker on what type of solar system to install in a no nonsense non biased manner.

Grid tie, off grid and the latest Lithium Hybrid systems are discussed at length and a graduate of this course can figure out what solar solution would best fit their needs and how not to waste money on common mistakes. Our solar 202 graduates start businesses with our preferential industry pricing which is too low to print to purchase solar panels and other gear without the burden of stocking inventory.

Thousands of people from all walks of life- Housewives, business owners, Energy managers, and even other solar companies have made this a popular course over the past 3 years. Every chapter and page of content of this class is based on practical or actual experiences in solar projects in the Philippines.

Yes, it is uncommon for a company to divulge trade secrets in its operations but we are a rather unconventional and our energy source is truly universal.

Our view is that quality fundamentals and techniques are needed to make renewable energy grow in sunny Philippines and that is how we put a little Solaric install in every island.

For more information or to register go to www.solaric.com.ph/solar101

solar 101 by SolaricNext class is August 12 and 13 at Mess Hall Karravin Plaza Pasong Tamo Ext Makati, with hands on conducted in our newly built solaric training showroom with millions of pesos worth of teaching aids and setups of every deployable solar technology.

Cost is P5000 for Solar 101 and P5000 for Solar 202 as these are whole day technical seminars with Food, consumables and text book included. For more information please call 5040092 or email us at info@solaric.com.ph

Class sizes are limited and pre registration and payment is strongly recommended as we had to turn down walk ins in the past.