Tag: solar energy philippines

What made the solar system the fastest growing energy source?

1. It’s limitless and smartly produced.
2. It’s earning a huge consumer base.
3. It has significant drop in costs.
4. It’s efficient overall.

 

Solar systems in the Philippines are the new source of energy; it’s efficient, less expensive, and profitable if you’re selling the house. Solar panels have proven its perks since being released in the market, and has provided people a new way to conserve energy and reserve other sources of power to minimize the supply. Today, the increasing demand for this renewable energy source has rapidly increased.

 

It’s limitless and smartly produced.

The way solar systems in the Philippines are sold, one can say that the said source of power has limitless possibilities. After all, it’s the sun! But what about when it rains? This is where human intervention makes a plausible discovery of arranging the energy production. You can attach a battery to save a handful of energy for the rainy season or enroll for the metering program.

It’s earning a huge consumer base.

With all of the benefits provided by having a solar system in the Philippines, there should be no question as to how the consumer base has grown in the past couple of years. Both residences and businesses are known to use solar energy, an evidence that people trust solar. More so, it has no harmful effects on people and comparatively minimal damage to the environment which makes it a wise choice for everyone.

There has been a significant drop in costs.

India, China, USA, and many others – these has been the regions where there are reported drop in solar costs. You get to pay $0.65 cents for a watt in India, $0.78 cents in the US, and much cheaper in the UK. Japan, on the other hand, maintains a  feasible price of $2.07 given its natural calamity risks such as the strong wind, constant earthquakes, and the mountainside erosion that affects the whole engineering process. It’s a positive thing for most consumers, given that it won’t be hard to install a solar system in any Philippine house today. These solar panels in houses do not only bring about a good supply of energy, but it also allows you to save from expensive utility grid billings every now and then for a smaller installation price.

So, is solar the fastest growing energy source?

According to the International Energy Agency, solar energy is now the fastest growing source of power. This was due to its ground-breaking record of accounting for almost ⅔ of net capacity around the world. The said growth was said to be a courtesy of the on-going popularity of solar panel installations especially in China. Moreover, the recent expansion in the US has also led to the said region being recognized as the second largest market for solar systems. In the Philippines, one can say that the recent ventures of various big companies are also contributing to the growth of this renewable source of energy.

 

Key Takeaway

The growing expansion of solar panels in houses and commercial establishments caused a huge impact in the industry. Thus, solar gaining recognition for being the fastest growing source of energy amongst its peers, wind, coal, and fossil among many others. It can be said that this achievement has truly made a wonderful exposure for using solar systems as an alternative sustainable source of energy.

What are the top ventures on solar systems in the Philippines in 2017?

1. PetroGreen Energy Corporation’s 10 MW solar park in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
2. First Toledo Solar Energy Corporation’s 60 MW solar farm in Tuledo, Southwestern Cebu.

 

As residential and commercial establishment owners continue to venture onto solar systems in the Philippines, so as the progress of the solar power projects in the country. Various business owners have tried and succeeded their ventures on said renewable energy source, hence, the continuous efforts on making the turnover of utility grid usage to solar systems.

In this article, we’ll discuss about the 2017 ventures on solar systems in the Philippines.

 

PETROGREEN ENERGY CORPORATION (PGEC)

PetroGreen Energy Corporation (PGEC) is a subunit of the Philippine oil company, PetroEnergy. Earlier this year, it was reported that the said subunit was granted with an environmental clearance for its solar system project located in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

What is the project about?

PGEC is to build a photovoltaic/solar power station also referred to as solar farm or solar park. It is a large-scale solar system designed for augmenting merchant power into the utility grid, and of which, are often scaled in megawatts (MW).

What is the aim?

According to a company statement, PGEC envisions the planned 10 MW solar park to be the first green and renewable source of energy in the city of Puerto Princesa and the entirety of Palawan.

Is it feasible?

Amongst others, Palawan remains to be a locality where energy source is limited hence supported by diesel energy source. This very reason could hinder Palawan from its potentials of growing into an urban city. With its reputation over the world due to its widely known tourist spots and natural attractions, the project being prepared by PGEC is a feasible and long-term solution for its energy source problem.

Not only will Palawan get the support that its community needs, but also an environment-friendly source of energy that will not put nature in danger.

FIRST TOLEDO SOLAR ENERGY CORPORATION (FTSEC)

First Toledo Solar Energy Corporation (FTSEC), sister company of Citicore Power, has been granted support loan by Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for its 60 MW solar farm project in Toledo City, Southwestern Cebu and is now distributing green energy source to the utility grid.

What is the project about?

Similar to PGEC, FTSEC has proposed a solar farm project to support the energy source of the locality and meet the needs of the people. Also, it aims to contribute energy supply to the grid, and promote green energy source in the industry.

What is the aim?

The company aims to support a green environment by installing renewable energy-sourced facilities such as solar, biomass, wind, and hydro power. Alongside its powerful aim of promoting green energy sources, is to give opportunities to the community wherever they install and operate solar farms.

Is it feasible?

The solar farm project is feasible for both sides: the owner and consumer. Aside from being able to augment the energy supply in Visayas region where common outages occur, the project also helps promote the use of green energy for electricity supply. In fact, according to reports from Cebu Daily News, the project will most likely replace around 157,000 barrels of crude oil that causes air pollution in the area. Hence, it can also be expected that the same project will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 38,000 tons. Today, the Toledo solar farm is the largest solar plant station in the country.

 

Key Takeaway

Brisk implementation of solar energy source has become prevalent in the Philippines, and we’re in favor of these companies’ aim. Solar energy is the wisest way to augment power supply around the country as it is not only renewable, but also promotes a clean and green environment for people to live in. Plus, it opens more employment opportunities within communities!

 

What are the improvised uses of solar panels?

1. Device battery charging
2. Water heating (and cooling)
3. All around ventilation
4. Outdoor lighting

With the decrease in solar panel prices in the Philippines and all over the world, people can now make use of solar energy in every way imaginable; aside from using it as an alternative to the traditional utility grid of electricity, that is. Going green with solar energy has provided the world of new ways to power up appliances, home utility tools, and even tech accessories, further saving utility grid provided electricity.

In this article, we’ll show you 4 extraordinary uses of solar panels and solar energy; all of which you can try at home!

 

Battery Charging

Have you ever thought of using solar energy in charging your batteries? Well, we think it’s time to do so. Sunlight is always present, and not using it even for small applications can be a waste. Thankfully, there are companies that sell solar-powered device chargers helping innovate the way people charge their devices’ batteries. Though, if you have the right materials, you can also opt to create your own device solar charger! Building one can help you better your devices especially when you’re doing outdoor activities such as traveling and camping.

 

Water Heating

Swimming pools are better used when it’s not too cold to dip in. This very problem can be solved through adding a solar blanket in the pool to warm up your water, or perhaps a solar heating system to help you better get the job done. What the solar heating system does is it uses the light collected from the sunlight and converts it to heat. The solar panels will be mounted on your roof to collect the heat, and from there, the heat will be passed onto the pool. Thus, increasing the pool’s water temperature. Conversely, this technology can also be used in cooling pool water especially during hot seasons.

 

Ventilation

Despite the widespread use of air conditioning units, ventilation fans are still very common. This goes most especially in the sala, dining room, kitchen, and many other areas where unwanted air are most existent and the need to circulate the air in return for a cleaner one is vital. More than anything, it helps remove foul odor at home. However, it cannot be denied that the use of both air conditioners and fans can rather amount to particular returns on your utility bills. The practical alternative is using solar-powered fans that you can either buy or build yourself. 

 

Lighting

When you come home at night, you definitely prefer seeing light both inside and outside of your home. This does not only make your home look visible, rather it also helps in avoiding unwanted guests at night. With solar lighting, you can make your home as well-lit as possible without worrying about your utility bills. The solar panels can help charge the batteries during daytime and make use of it during nighttime. You can even design your own solar-lit landscape to make your home look better at night.

 

Key Takeaway

Literally, these extraordinary uses of solar panels are lit. Solar panels do not only help save you from expensive utility charges and minimize the pressure on utility grids, but it also allows you to customize your own energy resource. The use of solar energy in the Philippines is definitely a huge advantage!

What are the usual mistakes homeowners make when going solar?

1. They opt for a solar lease and power purchase agreement that creates a huge financial impact despite the free installation.
2. They install solar systems on an old roof.
3. They usually do not seek information about solar efficiency and tend to spend more.

 

Success stories of installing solar systems in the Philippines has been making rounds and has also turned the use of solar panels as an alternative to utility grids into a trend amongst residential areas. In turn, a lot of people have opted to using this renewable energy to their advantage, especially with the decrease in its pricing.

Hold your horses though. Going solar is great in many many ways, but you need to makes sure you don’t make these common mistakes. 

 

Mistake No. 1: Opting for a solar lease and power purchase agreement

Choosing to sign a solar lease and power purchase agreement (PPA) is basically just renting a solar system from a solar leasing company. While this may allow you to freely install a solar system at home without shelling out to purchase the equipment, some agreements tend to last for 20 years. Solar leasing companies often gain bad reputation as they tend to make things difficult with home sales especially when potential buyers do not approve of the agreement.

Mistake No. 2: Installing the solar system on an old roof

This is a common mistake and is often among the costly ones: installing a solar system when your roof is already near its peak of replacement. Always keep in mind that the solar system is installed on the roof so the panels have easy access to direct sunlight. However, you should also note the durability of the roof; in short, make sure that the roof doesn’t need any other work done at the time of solar system installation.  Solar systems are generally designed to last for around 25 to 30 years, hence it could be wiser to proceed with the roof work first if any are needed before installing the solar system. 

Mistake No. 3: Not doing your homework about solar efficiency

Understanding how solar efficiency works isn’t rocket science, hence it is comprehensible for homeowners. The usual mindset of a potential solar owner would be to aim for an incredibly high-efficiency panel, because, well, it’s highly efficient. For homeowners, this option could be over-the-top and costly. This is where understanding your home’s energy requirement becomes significant.

An efficient solar system can be achieved with the right orientation of your panels, the approximate available hours of sunlight used for solar collection, the angle, and even the amount of ground or roof space available to you.

 

Quick Tip: The solar-south orientation is the most efficient way to get desirable results when it comes to collecting sunlight as it allows the most coverage during the available hours of the sun.

 

Key Takeaway

With these in mind, it should be easier for you to make smart decisions and successfully install the solar system while avoiding extra expenses that could make the installation costlier than they should be. The most expensive options don’t necessarily mean that it’s the best for your use. You can always achieve high-efficiency panels with the right orientation, angle, and placement of your solar panels.

Do solar panels work during the rain?

1. Yes, but they are much less effective.
2. There is a new all-weather solar panel being developed by Chinese scientists.
3. This uses electron-enriched graphene to bond with the positive ions of rain to produce electricity.
4. The technology still isn’t perfect but it may be available soon.

 

In terms of the use of renewable energy locally, the big question is this: is it worth getting a solar panel in the Philippines? The price may be worth the investment, but how effective can it be in a country with long rainy seasons? After all, how can we expect them to create energy with sunlight when clouds are blocking the sun? Well, that could change very soon because there are new types of solar panels in development that are designed to get energy from raindrops as well!

 

Chinese Design

This innovation in renewable energy technology is in development thanks to Chinese scientists. They have developed a way to harness the energy of rain water and integrated it into a solar panels. In this new design, they used a thin layer of graphene to coat the bottom side of the solar cell. It’s this graphene that can interact with the positively charged ions that can be found in rain drops. So when the rain pours, it will be a simple matter of flipping over the panel to get renewable energy even during the rainy season.

 

How Graphene Turns Rain Water into Energy

Since rain water is full of dissolved salts, it’s also full of positive and negative ions. On the other hand, the graphene is electron-enriched. So when raindrops hit the graphene, a pseudo-capacitor is created when the water clings on. A dual layer is then formed with this pseudo-capacitor and the graphene electrons. With these two layers, electric currents are formed when the positive ions in the rain – ammonium, calcium and sodium – initiate electric currents with the graphene. The energy formed between these two layers is strong enough to generate electricity. With just a mere atom-thick layer of graphene, hundreds of millivolts of energy can be created. Imagine what it would be like with a thicker layer?

 

Efficiency with the Sun

This comes with a dye-sensitive solar cell. These are thin photovoltaic (PV) cells that use organic dye to absorb sunlight and produce electrons. So it can convert solar energy. At the same, it makes it able to absorb the electric currents created by the rain and graphene.

This same solar cell can be 6.53% efficient in creating energy from simulated sunlight as well.

 

Still in Development

Although it is still much less efficient than most standard solar panels, the technology can become an all-in-one solution for renewable energy by being able to provide it during any sort of weather. It is certainly a viable option for countries rainy countries, such as the UK and the Philippines. The price of the solar panel will definitely be worth it when households shave off a lot of expenses from their electricity bill during the rainy months. For now, we have net metering to rely on in times when the sun doesn’t shine.

 

How did Germany become the world leader in renewable energy?

1. In 1991, their government established the Renewable Energy Sources Act. This required the power companies to allow renewable energy companies to connect to the main national grid.
2. The power/utility companies were even required to pay the renewable energy companies for their power.
3. This guaranteed a market for renewable energy, which was made it an attractive business to make a long-term investment in.
4. With the support these investors and the government, the renewable energy business flourished in Germany.
5. By April 30, 2016, 85% of all the power consumed in Germany was from renewable energy.
6. It is said that this figure will be a normal everyday occurrence by 2030

 

What inspires many individual and groups to invest in solar systems in the Philippines is the way Germany uses renewable energy. Despite not having a climate like ours, the Germans were able to find a way to harness the energy of the sun in an efficient way. In fact, 85% of their overall power comes from renewable energy sources such as solar panels. Read on to see how they achieved this amazing feat.

 

Public and Political Support

Germany doesn’t really get much sunlight. In a way, this means it doesn’t really doesn’t make sense that they have become the world’s leader in solar energy. But the big difference between them and other countries is social and political support on the use of solar systems. Because of this, the necessary regulations to make use of such systems passed early on. In fact, they started back in 1991 with Renewable Energy Sources Act. This law required utility companies to allow renewable energy companies to operate along with the national grid and to pay for their power. This helped to offset the high cost of such power production.

Doing this also guaranteed that there will be a market for renewable energy. Thus, investing long-term in the business and service was extremely attractive. With the support of these investors, the solar companies became financially stable to operate at will.

In short, this success in nationwide solar energy production is not because Germany found an ingenious way to harness the sun, but because they had the means and support to do full production.

 

Breaking Solar Records

Back in 2014, Germany achieved a national record by satisfying 50% of their power needs with solar power; 23.1 gigawatts to be exact. At this time, this figure was also half of the entire world’s production of solar energy at the time. Wow!

Then in 2015, most of the electricity demand in Germany was satisfied with renewable energy. It’s not hard to see why when it was reported that both wind and solar sources alone of energy generated 40.65GW of power. During this same year, 4.85 GW of power was produced from biomass and 2.4 GW from hydropower. That brings that grand total to 47.9GW of power produced by renewable energy. At that time, Germany’s power demand was 61.1 GW. This means that renewable energy accounted for 78% of the country’s power.

Finally, on April 30, 2016, this record was broken again. On this day, Germany generated enough renewable energy to satisfy 85% of the country’s power demands. This happened even while all the coal stations had their day off; it was Sunday. The energy mostly came from wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.

Just goes to show how dedicated Germany is to the service. In fact, this 85% figure is said to become a normal evenryday occurrence in Germany by 2030.

 

Key Takeaway

Because of the full support of its people and government, Germany is able to go into full production with renewable energy such solar power. Even with little sun – as compared to tropical countries like ours – it still was able to become the world leader in renewable energy and solar power.

How do I judge if the price of a solar panel is worth it?

1. Ask your friends how much they paid for their solar systems.
2. The warranty must last for around 25 years.
3. Search for test and wind certification.
4. Consider how much space you have on your roof. The less space you have, the more efficient the panel you buy must be. Thus, you may have to pay more.
5. The inverter must be efficient.

 

There are many homes and buildings that use solar panels in the Philippines. The price for these systems is worth it when you can harness the powerful energy of the sun and turn it into electricity for, say, your air conditioner. Talk about turning the tables around!

However, it’s important that you know the just price of a solar panel in the country. That way, you won’t let the heat cloud your judgment when you’re buying a solar system. If you’re not sure how judge the price of solar panels in the Philippines, then keep these following guidelines in mind when you start canvassing.

 

Ask Around

This one is a very simple tip: you can simply ask your friends who have solar systems installed. They have gone through the rigorous process that you will be doing through and they would know the just price of a solar panel. Philippine residents can definitely use this tip because the climate has already prompted many to install their own solar system.

25-Year Warranty

With any big investment that promises it will last a long time – such as a solar panel – you need a guarantee that this will be seen through. This comes in the form of a warranty. For solar panels and systems, this should last for roughly around 25 years.

But you must also keep in mind that for a warranty to be honored, the manufacturer must still be operating. Thus, you shouldn’t buy a solar panel if its manufacturer has gone out of business or it doesn’t have a good track record.

Test Certification

Solar panels are tested in different ways. If they pass these certain tests, then these panels also get certain certifications. Look out for these certifications so you know exactly what tests a panel has passed. This is important because some are thorougly tested by a third party while some are just self-assessments. An example of the former is a TUV IEC 61215 certification, which indicates that an independent laboratory has tested the panel and it has passed their specifics. Look for these kinds of assurance to gauge whether the solar panel you wish to buy is reliable or not.

The Size of Your Roof

This is very important when deciding what type of panel to buy. The smaller space there is on your roof, then the panel will also have to be smaller. At the same time, it has to perform better than regular panels to be able to provide your home with power. Thus, you may have to spend more for such a unit. Even with a big roof, you have to consider the pros and cons of buying many inefficient panels versus a few efficient ones.

Wind Certification

Another certification you need to look at is the wind certification, especially you live in an area with many strong gusts. The panels with this proven assurance have mounting systems that are built to withstand cyclones. This will certainly be worth the price of the solar panel since the Philippines is prone to storms.

Inverter Efficiency

Finally, you need to check the inverter. Basically, this is the device that converts the energy from the panel into usable electricity. Thus, this absolutely has to be efficient so you can quickly get your investment back.

 

Key Takeaway

The truth is, the price of solar panels in the Philippines – or anywhere else – will be… well, pricey. After all, you will be investing in a complicated system that will save you tons of money in the future. What you need to look for is the solar panel that will return your investments back to you quickly, so you need to find that ones that are efficient and reliable. Follow the guidelines above and you surely will.

What are fun facts about the sun?

1. It makes up for 99.86% of the mass of the solar system; 330,000 times that of earth.
2. Its mass is 75% hydrogen and 25% helium.
3. 960,000 spherical earths can fit inside a hollow sun; 1,300,000 earths can fit if it’s grinded into fine powder.
4. It has 11,900 times the surface area of the earth.
5. 130 million years after it has consumed all its hydrogen, the sun will start consuming its helium, which will cause it to grow large enough to consume Mercury, Venus, and Earth. It will also turn red during this time.
6. The energy of the earth’s core is nuclear fusion.
7. The sun is almost a perfect circle; the difference between the polar and equatorial diameters is only 10km.
8. The sun travels around the Milky Way at 220 kps (kilometers per second). It takes arons 225-250 million years for it to make a full revolution.

 

When you live in a busy country like the Philippines, the solar system and its vastness may not come to mind all the time. Especially when you’re caught up dealing with big tasks, it’s easy to forget just how big the universe really is. However, just feeling the heat outside or looking up to the sky could quickly remind us of that.

The sun is natural wonder that gives us so much solar energy for our life on earth (and renewable energy) to flourish. With such benefits to the earth, it’s a shame that it’s existence is often taken for granted. Here’s a list of fun facts about the sun that you probably didn’t know… or just forgot about.  

 

The Mass of the Sun

The sun accounts for 99.86% of the mass of our entire solar system. Being that it’s 330,000 times the mass of Earth, this is not hard to believe. Of this 99.86%, 75% of the sun is hydrogen and 25% of it is helium.

Almost One Million Earths Worth

While putting into numbers the mass of the sun may come as a surprise to you, you can at least admit that it’s pretty obvious the sun is pretty huge. But how big is it exactly? Well, if the sun were hollow, then you could actually fit almost 960,000 spherical earths inside of it.

But of course, with spherical objects, there will always be spaces in between. If you could squash an earth into fine powder, then you could actually fit 1,300,000 Earths inside of the sun! Wow! Since the sun has 11,900 times the surface area of the earth, it’s not hard to see why fitting so many earths inside the sun is possible.

The Sun Will Consume the Earth

The sun is 75% hydrogen, so it will take several millennia for it to burn through it all. Even after all the hydrogen is gone, it will start to burn through the helium. This will take about 130 million years to do. When the time comes the helium will cause the sun to expand to a size so big that it will consume Mercury, Venus, and even the Earth! Luckily, we and our close descendants will be long gone from this life when this happens. The sun will also turn red during this time.

It’s Nuclear

Well, not the sun per se. The nuclear part of it is energy of the Sun’s core which is nuclear fusion. This is produced when 4 hydrogen nuclei combine and form into 1 helium nucleus.

A Perfect Circle in Nature

The closest thing to a perfect circle in nature is the sun! The difference between its polar and equatorial diameters is just 10kilometers. Considering that the sun is huge, 10kilometers is a veeery small difference. That makes its shape a very slight oblong; but more towards a perfect circle.

It travels at 220 KPS

Believe it or not, the sun is actually travelling at 220 kilometers per second. It may appear to be still but that’s because the earth and everyone in it (you and me included) is travelling along with it. While the earth revolves around the sun, the sun revolves around the Milky Way. Although 220 kilometers per second may seem really fast, it actually still takes the Sun and the entire solar system 225-250 million years to complete one full orbit.

 

Key Takeaway

While not all the bases were covered in this article, these fun facts show that the sun truly is a natural marvel. It makes you wonder how it came to be! Regardless of how this happened, we should all be thankful that man was ingenuous enough to learn how to harness its energy. You can see it with the prevalence of solar systems in the Philippines. With such a renewable energy system, several countries have already saved money and contributed to making the earth a more sustainable place.

How do solar panels work at night?

1. Through net metering
2. 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.