Sean Si, Author at Solar Panels Philippines

Solar Energy vs. Fossil Fuels

Solar energy through the use of solar panels is being used not only in the Philippines but also across the entire world. People are now turning to renewable energy in an effort to save the environment from global warming.

However, there are still some individuals and industries that prefer to use fossil fuels to produce the energy they need for their daily activities. If you are unsure about which one to turn to, then you may want to continue reading below as this article will compare and contrast solar energy from fossil fuels.

What is Solar Energy?

Solar energy is an important source of renewable energy. Basically, it comes from the heat and the radiant light the sun produces. A wide range of technologies including but not limited to artificial photosynthesis, solar architecture, solar thermal energy, photovoltaic, and solar heating are able to harness the sun’s energy and turn it into solar power.

The International Energy Agency supports the use of solar energy for it can aid the efforts to decrease the causes of a worsening global warming.

What are Fossil Fuels?

These fuels are made through natural means; anaerobic decomposition of dead organisms is one of them. Anthracite coal, petroleum, and methane can be classified as fossil fuels. These materials can be both volatile and non-volatile.

They are not considered as a form of renewable energy because they take at least a mega-annum to be formed and created. Fossil fuel reserves are also being exhausted much faster than new reserves are being created.

Fossil fuels have high percentages of natural gas, coal, petroleum, and carbon contained in them. Burning them results in a huge amount of carbon dioxide being produced in the environment. This chemical compound heightens climate forcing which then leads to global warming.

Why Should You Use Solar Energy rather than Fossil Fuels?

By now, you have enough information to support renewable energy like solar power than fossil fuels. You could truly save the Earth from global warming and climate change. But if you need more convincing, then here are more reasons why you should make this effort.

Investment – There is a high possibility that you will see an economic shift from fossil fuels to clean or renewable energy. HSBC is predicting that stricter regulations regarding the climate can be put in place. This would mean that companies producing fossil fuels can be restricted from getting unused fuels that can be found underground. Ultimately, this may result into their fall.
Cost and Capacity – Solar panel installations are slowly escalating at a thrilling rate due to its cost drastically dropping. It is expected that this development will continue in the future. On the other hand, the cost of coal and other fossil fuels are rising because of the implementation of sterner environmental regulations.
Jobs – In the United States, the solar energy industry is able to hire more and more people. A total of 20,000 new jobs were handed out in 2013 by the various solar companies across America whereas the industry for fossil fuels is slowly but surely cutting jobs since 2012. This could be another result of stricter regulations being put in place.

All the reasons discussed above should really be enough for everyone to at least consider using solar energy (and other forms of renewable energy). Each and every individual has a responsibility towards this Earth. All of us can work together to produce a cleaner and brighter future not only for the next generation but also for the current one.

Edmond Becquerel: The Father of Solar Panels

Father-of-Solar-Panels

With the growing abundance of solar energy in the Philippines, it is not hard to hope that the country will soon become a leader in utilizing clean energy. All of the equipment, like the solar panels, would not be made possible if it weren’t for the man who discovered the photovoltaic effect: Edmond Becquerel.

Edmond Becquerel is a French physicist who studied solar spectrum, magnetism, electricity, and optics. He discovered the photovoltaic effect in 1839, which is the main operating principle of a solar cell. Contrary to popular belief, solar power technology is not a modern development. People have been utilizing this energy during the mid-1800s, during the industrial revolution. Solar energy was primarily used to heat water to produce steam and drive machinery.

The Personal Life of Edmond Becquerel

Becquerel was a pupil turned successor of his father at the Museum National D’Histoire Naturelle. He was appointed professor at the Agronomic Institute, a short-lived school in Versailles. He also became a department chairperson of the Physics department at the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers in 1853. His son, Antoine Henri Becquerel, was one of the people who discovered radioactivity, earning him a Nobel Prize for Physics.

In addition to that, Becquerel also studied the properties of light. He paid special attention to the photochemical effects and spectroscopic characters of solar radiation and electric light. He also devised a phosphoroscope, an instrument that allowed the intervals between the exposures to the source of light and observing the effects to be varied at will and must be measured accurately.

He also explored the diamagnetic and paramagnetic properties of substances. Becquerel also showed interest in the phenomena of electromechanical decomposition, which added to the evidence of Faraday’s law of electrolysis, which are relationships based on electrochemical researches.

The Discovery of the Photovoltaic Effect

Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect, which showed how electricity can be produced from sunlight. According to Becquerel, “Shining light on an electrode submerged in a conductive solution would create an electric current” but, despite the amount of research and development poured onto the discovery, photovoltaic power continued to be not so efficient. This lead to solar cells having no function at all but to measure light.

While experimenting in his father’s laboratory as a teenager, Becquerel created the world’s first photovoltaic cell. He placed silver chloride in an acidic solution and illuminated it while it was connected to platinum electrodes. The result generated voltage and current, making the photovoltaic effect known as the “Becquerel effect.”

A century later, an American engineer named Russell Ohl patented the world’s first modern solar cell, after the invention of the transistor.

People might have stuck to oil and fossil fuels as energy sources if it wasn’t for Edmond Becquerel’s discovery. The sun, aside from helping all life forms grow and generating light for the benefit of all, became one of mankind’s most powerful energy source—probably one that will last until the end of mankind’s lifetime.

Solar Energy Plants Around The World

Saving the earth is a will literally take a worldwide effort, meaning more and more countries are urging their people to do their part. One way ordinary people can contribute is through solar panel installation. In the Philippines, the sun never fails to shine, so maybe it’s time for our countrymen to also invest in clean energy. To show you just how much the people of earth are trying to save it, here are some solar energy plants around the world.

Solar Star Projects, California, USA

This is the biggest solar plant in the world and it’s in California. It produces an amazing 579 megawatts of power and it supplies that power to a staggering 255,000 homes and over 13 square kilometers big. The plant uses Oasis Power Plant Technology which means that the panels follow the sun to maximize the sunlight. It’s estimated that the plant displaces 570,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to removing roughly around 108,000 cars from the road every year.

Cestas Solar Farm, Bordeaux, France

This solar farm located in Bordeaux, France, is the biggest solar plant in Europe and is producing 300 megawatts of power to supply about 300,000 homes. Chinese manufacturers supplied the plant with its solar panels. It was put up by Krinner, Schneider Electric, and Eiffage and was opened in October 2015, and is connected to the grid that provides electricity to the whole of France, Réseau de transport d’électricité.

Charanka Solar Park, Gujurat, India

21 companies worked hard to make this 345 megawatt solar plant a reality. It’s part of another solar plant that as a whole, they make an amazing 600 megawatts of electricity. It’s on a 20.2 square kilometer piece of land in the North of India in Gujurat. A solar park at Charanka which is on 5000 acres of land can produce up to 500 megawatts of electricity from solar and wind power.

Agua Caliente Solar, Arizona, USA

This solar plant sits in Arizona in the city of Yuma. It produces 290 megawatts of electricity that powers a 100,000 homes. The plant is owned by NRG Energy and MidAmerican solar, and is remotely operated by First Solar. The features of First Solar’s grid allow this to happen. The technology involved in the solar panels used and the operation of the plant led to the USA’s Department of Energy to grant them a loan of $967 million.

Golmud Solar Park, Qinghai, China

This Chinese solar plant which was built in 2009, produces 500 megawatts of power. It is still under construction and when finished, another 60 megawatts of power will be added to its capacity.

These huge solar plants all around the world proves that countries are serious about their oath to reduce greenhouse gasses, postpone climate change, and are well into the movement of saving the earth. The plants are scattered over huge patches of land, using technology we’ve never seen before, using the most of the most abundant and infinite thing on earth: sunlight. The amount of carbon dioxide that these plants displace might not be much yet, but if every country invests in clean energy, imagine the clean air available to every person, reducing not only the destruction of earth, but also the risk of diseases.

The Biggest Energy Consumers in Your Home

Each modern house is different, but what makes them similar is that they are considered home by its residents and they need electricity. Some people opt to save money when it comes to electric consumption and are happier with solar panel prices in the Philippines and using renewable source energy for their home.

That aside, have you ever looked at your electric bill and wondered which appliances consume the most energy? Listed below are every home’s biggest energy consumers.

Lighting

The house lights are diverse and distributed to each room. An estimated range lights consume per month is 100-150 kWh per hour. There are energy-saving bulbs and are even environmentally friendly to use, such as LEDs and CLFs. Remember to turn off the lights when a room is empty, except when it’s only going to be empty for a couple of minutes to save energy.

Refrigerator/Freezer

It is fairly unavoidable to unplug freezers or refrigerators because if you do, the food inside will spoil! The average energy range of this appliance is from 200-400 kWh per month. Refrigerators that are already more than 10 years old tend to consume more energy, so in the long run it’s better to buy a new one. New refrigerators nowadays have a power saving option recommended to be used during the nighttime.

Water heater

Water heaters are used in the showers, cleaning or ironing clothes, and washing the dishes. Studies in the U.S. show that they consumes about 12% of the overall energy used in a home. The average consumption per month is estimated around 400-600 kWh, which is even higher than the refrigerator!

Air-conditioning

Air-conditioning units are notorious for being consuming the most energy, with an average consumption of 400-800 kWh per month. An AC with inverter are the best electricity-saving AC units in the market, as the power they consume depends on the temperature of the incoming air as well as the level set in the thermostat. Setting the thermostat to 25 degree Celsius is highly recommended to save energy. Each degree you adjust will increase the cost!

The items on this list probably didn’t come as a shock, but it’s still a good reminder. Unplug appliances when they’re not in use (with the exception of the refrigerator of course). When an appliance is nearing replacement, do your research in advance and find out which units consume the least energy. You may even find alternatives that are solar-powered!

Benefits of Going to the Solar 101 and 202 Seminars

Start a new business or install solar panels priced in the Philippines at the least possible cost by doing it yourself.

At Solaric, we trained over a thousand people in our solar 101 and solar 202 seminars; and its starting to change the rooftop solar landscape in the Philippines. Our independent dealers and installers can be found all over the Philippines, taking solar from fringe to a mainstream source of energy.

In just one weekend, we share our know-how to build solar systems, help you avoid palpak builds, and sizing them to perfection.

You might be asking, why are we sharing our trade secrets? The answer is simple: here in Solaric, we want to jump-start the solar industry, especially since climate change is now becoming more of a reality.

Our “trade secret” is our guiding philosophy: Design and build every system as if it’s our own money in the line; that’s how we started, and that’s how we do it.

Sorry, but we do NOT do free “Sell-Me Na-rs.” We value your time and this is not a mindless seminar to sell you equipment, but rather for you to make an informed choice over the many types of PV solar systems in the market and get you in the “know” how it works before you make a decision.

Our serious clients always look for meaningful content and for that we have to give a quality seminar that has the consumable equipment, textbooks, expert instructors, and plenty of real-world experience from our battery of engineers.

The event costs P5000 per day and is divided into two segments: Solar 101 and Solar 202. For more information when’s our next seminar, click here!

For those on a budget, one free advice we could give is for you to make a quick trip to our showroom during weekdays.

You do not have to be an electrical engineer to comprehend this seminar, but you should at least be a high school or college graduate as we are doing some high school math and a little algebra on some of our computations (aside from the usual business math).

Our two-day Solar 101 and 202 covers the mechanics on how to integrate solar panels to any electrical system—from ice plants to a small residential project. Salient details on how solar works, how to pick solar panels like a pro, computation for return on investment, and things to watch out for when installing high powered solar systems are covered in length.

Who attends our seminars, you ask? We often have astute businessmen, energy executives, Solar farm designers, Energy companies, homeowners, enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and solar companies, who want to be well informed, as our audience. This means that you can expect meaningful, professional content.

Certificate of completion, hot meals, and chances to win great prizes on the raffle table are included.

There are discount vouchers worth more than the entrance fee, and attendees of the 202 workshop are privy to installer rates for key materials if they decide to get into the business.

Our Solar 101 course was developed with input from experienced solar installers, who come from around the world, that have practical experience in doing hundreds of rooftops in the Philippines. Although this does not mean they are not comprehensible to the common man, businessman, and appreciable to even the most seasoned electrical engineer. In fact, it’s the other way around.

Solar 202, on the other hand, is for people who want to go to the next step and get into the boots of an installer for a day. They will be wiring up live systems and watch the electric meter spin backward with our ERC-approved grid tie methods.

Graduates of 202 are then given full access to our arsenal of Solaric tested and approved materials such as Tier 1 solar panels, off grid and grid tie inverters, lithium, and non-lithium batteries at industry insider rates to grow their business.

How successful is Solar 101 and 202?

We measure our seminars’ success through our attendees’ success, and they alone have installed thousands of Solaric products and solar panels all over the Philippines.

Almost every day a new house or business somewhere in the Philippines goes online from Solaric-trained installers and dealers.

From Luzon to the farthest corners of Mindanao, we are turning the lights ON, lowering bills, and bringing smiles by using eternal sunshine.

At Solaric, We Turn On the Sun and Brilliant Minds!

For more information (and to register) in Solar 101 and Solar 202, please go to this page and on this one. You may also call us at 504 0092.

The Many Benefits of Utilizing Solar Energy

Soaring solar panel prices in the Philippines are not stopping companies from trying to harness the power of the sun. Solar energy is abundant in the Philippines, and it would be a waste not to take advantage of it. If you’re still not convinced that using solar energy is good for you, the people around you, and the environment, here are a few more arguments that will hopefully budge you.

Solar energy is a renewable source of energy.

This means it will never run out. It is available all around the world every single day. It is impossible to run out of solar energy, and as long as the sun shines, it is available for us to harness. We still have about 5 billion years before our sun dies, according to scientists, so that’s a lot of time!

Solar energy will reduce your electricity bills

Because you’re going to use the power generated by your installed solar power system during the day, you won’t be using the electricity from the grid and your bill will likely drop. However, how much you save will depend on how much power and heat you consume. If you’re connected to the grid and you’re consuming more than you’re generating, you’ll still be getting power from the grid. However, if you’re consuming less than you’re generating, the excess power is fed into the grid and you might receive payment for the amount of electricity. You might even receive more if you sell more of your excess electricity.

Solar panels have diverse applications

Solar panels, or photovoltaics, are what’s used to harvest the power of the sun to generate electricity, while solar thermal is what’s used to heat water. Other uses are to generate electricity for people who have no access to the national grid, or to treat and distill water in places where there isn’t much clean water, and even power the satellites that are in space. Recently, they’ve been integrating solar panels into the materials used to put up buildings. Some time ago, a company unveiled a kind of solar panel that is transparent that can be used for windows.

Solar panels do not emit pollution

Since you’re not burning anything while generating electricity from the sunlight that hits the solar panels, there is no pollution. This is very much unlike the other modes of electricity generation, such as gas and coal plants which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and nuclear plants which release waste into the environment.

Solar has low maintenance costs

These systems don’t necessarily need that much maintenance since there aren’t many moving parts. All you have to do is to clean them a few times once a year and make sure that they’re taking in as much sunlight as they can and no dust is reflecting the sunlight.

If we rely more on renewable energy sources, we can reduce the harmful gases that we’re releasing into the atmosphere and maybe even stop global warming. It’s time to go to the right direction and save mother earth!

Learn about Solar Through Solar 101 and 202

Do you want to know more about solar power and solar systems in the Philippines? Are you tired of paying one of the highest electricity rates in the world? Well, you’ll be glad to know that solar works very well in the Philippines because we have so much more sun, higher electricity rates, and lower installation costs than homeowners experience in the US. Every month, upon increasing popular demand, we have been conducting our industry shaping Solar 101 and 202 seminars to teach the art and science of putting up solar installations in the Philippines.

We share our knowledge on how to build solar systems, size them just right, avoid common problems we see in the field, as well as compute for the Return on Investment from small builds that light up a home, to major solar farm utility projects that you might see reported on newspapers.

You may be wondering why we are sharing our trade secrets. To shed some light, one of our main goals here in Solaric is to see more common homeowners or local businesses to adapt solar and understand it at a faster rate. We believe that it is good for the economy since it does not need a centavo in subsidies; All you need for it to thrive are quality materials, overall system designs, and more importantly the information on how to execute it and how to install it.

Our “trade secret” is our guiding philosophy: Design and build every system as if it’s our own money in the line—this is how we started, that’s how we do it.

For those asking whether this is some kind of “Sell-Me Na-rs,” you’ll be disappointed to know that we don’t do those. It’s not our style, nor is it an enjoyable way to spend your weekend. However, you could always ask the speakers some questions regarding solar panel installation or solar panels in general during the seminars.

Our Solar 101 and 202 seminars are just two days, but they are HEAVY in the pertinent details in putting up solar in the Philippines. In two days, you will learn about solar technology and solar equipment in an unbiased manner. We will also frankly talk about the permitting process and difficulties you will face when using solar.

All of that takes a little investment in time and money.

In the Solar 101 and 202 seminars, you can expect to learn about the mechanics on how to integrate solar panels to any electrical system (from Ice plants to a small residential project). You will also be informed about the salient details on how solar works, the computation for your ROI, as well as the things you need to watch out for when installing high powered solar systems.

In these sessions, our regular guests are astute businessmen, energy executives, solar farm designers, various (solar) energy companies, home owners, solar enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs, who want to be more than well informed about solar, in general.

The event costs P5000 per day. The whole seminar is divided into two segments: Solar 101 and Solar 202. For more information for the next Solar 101 and 202, click here and here!

Here in Solaric, We Turn ON the Sun!

Solar-Powered Cars vs. Gas-Powered Cars

Saving the environment and minimizing the effects of global warming remains a daunting task even today. More and more people have been turning to renewable energy, and sources such as geothermal, wind, and solar have seen a significant rise in usage. Even here in the Philippines – where solar panel prices remain viable – renewable energy has established itself as the solid go-to alternative. Solar especially, considering the Philippines is a tropical country with sunlight in spades.

However, solar panels are not solely used for home power. Nowadays, technologies are being developed so it can replace the role of gas in your cars and vehicles. In fact, solar-powered cars are being refined so that it may eventually compete with the cars of today. Those that are powered by fossil fuels, in particular.

Gasoline-Powered Cars

Gasoline is being used to power vast quantity of internal combustion engines throughout the world in various industries particularly the transport sector. Several grades of octane rating produce gasoline. It is known to contain benzene and other carcinogens.

Today, most cars are being powered by gasoline and petrol. Diesel is one of the most commonly used gasoline to power a vehicle, as designed by car manufacturers from across the world. Unfortunately, both these fuels are causing air pollution and directly being blamed for contributing to global warming and climate change. One specific negative cause of these emissions is smog, which can be seen in places that uses high amounts of fuel like China.

The need for a more environment-friendly car has been expressed due to the dangers being brought by the harmful effects of petrol and gasoline. Currently, several vehicles have been manufactured using alternative fuels like ethanol and natural gas in order to answer this need.

Solar-Powered Cars

Makers of solar cars combine the technology being used in the automotive, alternative energy, bicycle, and aerospace industries.

Furthermore, these vehicles highly depend on a solar array which utilizes photovoltaic cells to be able to convert the light coming from the sun into electricity.

There are different kinds of solar arrays which can be used on a car; they include horizontal, vertical, adjustable, integrated, trailer, and remote. An optimization between vehicle mass, aerodynamic resistance, power output, and practical considerations need to be considered in choosing the solar array geometry.

More is being done for the development of solar arrays in the future. For example, they are being made to be thinner and more flexible.

Other solar-powered cars are using gallium arsenide solar cells or silicon solar cells instead of solar arrays.

Examples of Solar-Powered Cars

Most solar-powered cars today have been built and invented for the purpose of various solar car races around the world; although, there are some of them which have been designed for public use.

Solar Spirit 3, Solar Spirit 3, PowerCore SunCruiser, SolarWorld GT, PowerCore SunCruiser, Kaiton II, OWL, Stella, Stella Lux, UltraCommuter, and Apollo Solar Car Team are only a few examples of the solar cars from all over the world today.

It is true that only a small part of this technology have been made available for public and commercial use but this is a mark of what is to come in the future. After all, solar is a much cheaper option compared to gasoline.

How Strong is the Sun?

In the Philippines, solar panel installations are not uncommon. With the sun’s ever present energy beaming down on to the country on a near daily basis, it’s a truly viable option for renewable power that many have now taken up.

That may lead one to wonder as to the true power of the sun. So, how strong is it, really?

General information

Even in science’s early years, the sun has always been pegged as a prominent feature of our solar system. In fact, that’s not far from the truth – we can prove today that the sun does compose a whopping 99.8% of our solar system. Comprised of 70% hydrogen and 28% helium, among other elements, the sun is a truly central attribute of the space around us.

So much so that many stories, legends, and myths – most of which can be dated back to centuries before – have been created with it as the catalyst for all life. That’s not far from the truth, either, as the sun is has been a source of human power – one way or another – for a very, very long time.

The Power of the Sun

The core of the sun is an extreme environment, with temperatures reaching up to 15.6 million Kelvin (27M °F or 15M °C) and a pressure of 250 billion atmospheres. The power of the sun is around 386 billion mega Watts, formed by nuclear fusion reactions. Its energy is also made out of 5,000,000 tons of gamma rays where each second 700,000,000 tons of hydrogen gas are then turned into 695,000,000 tons of helium.

The Parts of the Sun

There are three major parts of the sun: namely the photosphere, chromosphere, and the corona. All have different ranges of temperatures because of its distance and placement in the sun’s structure.

Photosphere – this is the area where the sun’s radiation is seen as sunlight, with a temperature of around 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit or 5,500 degrees Celsius. The sunspots are darker and cooler; their temperature lingers at about 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit or 4,000 degrees Celsius.
Chromosphere – light from chromosphere isn’t that strong, but can be seen as a red rim during solar eclipses. The temperature here is about 7,800 degrees Fahrenheit or 4,320 degrees Celsius.
Corona – temperature is the highest in the corona, with it reaching scorching temperatures of 3.5 million degrees Fahrenheit or 2 million degrees Celsius. It is visible during solar eclipses as a plasma stream shaped like a crown.

The Sun’s Age

It stands at the old age of 4.5 billion years old, with only temperature changes to show for its age. The general estimate for its lifespan is 5 billion, and once it reaches that point, it will have lost all of its hydrogen fuel and, as a result, self-destruct from it. It will become such a powerful event that it is highly likely to impact the Earth. Even its position as the third planet from the Sun will not save it from burning when the time comes.

3 Ways to Protect Yourself from the Sun

With the sun’s persistent presence in the sky and its ever-warming rays consistently beaming down onto the Earth, solar energy in the Philippines remains abundant and infinitely renewable. Here, where the weather is dictated by only two seasons (the rainy and the summer), enjoying a bright, sunny day is the norm.

But be warned, as overexposure to the sun can cause problems. It can range from something as small as wrinkles and sunburns to even skin cancer. That said, read up on the following tips on how you can enjoy the temperate outdoors without having to worry about its negative effects:

Use some sunscreen

Sunscreen can come in many varieties, but it’s usually a good rule of thumb to pick ones that are SPF 15 and above. For those with sensitive skin, though, SPF 45 may be more advisable. When picking, also make sure the check the bottle for the label “broad spectrum”; this indicates that the sunscreen will be capable of protecting you from both UVA and UVB rays.

Apply your sunscreen on all exposed skin about 20-30 minutes before exposure. Reapply every two hours, especially if you have sweated or swam.

Fun fact: An average person’s body needs at least 45 milliliters of sunscreen to cover all of their exposed skin – that’s about one typical shot glass!

Wear proper clothing

Those living in tropical countries, such as the Philippines, usually don’t’ cover themselves up too much due to the heat. However, if you’re conscious about sun exposure, then it’s the best option you’ve got aside from using an umbrella.

As much as possible, wear long sleeved shirts and long pants to minimize skin exposure. You can also opt to wear wide brimmed hats – about 3 inches or more on the rim – and sunglasses to ensure that you’re kept safe from the sun’s rays.

Go out at the right times

When going out anytime between 10 and 4pm, and especially at noon, make sure to keep away from the sun whenever you can. That’s because the sun is at its peak during these hours, and is more likely to burn you than any other time.

Equip yourself with an umbrella or a wide jacket, and seek shade whenever possible.

Even within your car you may still be prone to burns. That said, if you live in particularly sunny areas, tint your windows. This will keep the rays out while also keeping the insides of your car cooler. It also gives you a bit more privacy.

Remember that the sun, while a beneficial addition to the Earth’s environment, can still be devastating when overexposure comes into play. When enjoying its warm rays, keep in mind that moderation is key.