Homeowners can harness the power of the sun, wind and water to create electricity. This form of renewable energy is considered sustainable, as fossil fuels don’t require extraction from the earth.
Planning for a home renewable energy system starts with assessing your power use and implementing energy efficiency measures. Increasing energy efficiency will allow you to purchase a more minor solar or wind energy system and save money on electricity costs over time.
Solar Panels
A home renewable energy system requires careful planning with a renewable energy planning consultant. This undertaking entails researching your options, weighing your pros and cons and finding the right balance between cost and affluence. Luckily, plenty of green products and services are in the know to help you find the perfect energy-efficient mate suited for your needs and wants. Using a solar power system to produce electricity for your home is the best way to go green and save some coins simultaneously. The best way to start the process is to identify your power providers and determine what they offer and don’t. It will allow you to narrow your options to a few high-quality providers.
Solar panels are becoming a common choice for homeowners looking to cut their long-term energy costs and carbon footprint. They can also increase the value of your home and provide a clean source of electricity without polluting the environment.
They require a series of components to collect and convert the sun’s light into usable electricity. These components include solar cells, an inverter and a mounting system to secure the whole thing to your roof or another surface.
The cells in solar panels are made from silicon, which is a material that generates electrons when exposed to sunlight. These electrons then flow through wires and circuitry to create a flow of electricity.
There are two main types of solar cells: crystalline-silicon and thin-film. Crystalline-silicon cells are the most common and can be made from various materials, including cadmium telluride and amorphous silicon. Thin-film panels use different materials to collect the sun’s rays, but they offer less efficiency than crystalline-silicon or amorphous-silicon cells.
Solar panels can power various products, from small electronics to lighting and heating systems. In addition, you can use them to produce power for remote cabins and cottages that are not connected to the electric utility grid.
Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are a renewable energy source that you can use to generate electricity for your home or farm. They are often a stand-alone option but can also be connected to the electric grid to reduce energy costs and help you power your home during outages.
A wind turbine uses a set of blades that rotate at 18 revolutions per minute to transform the wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical energy. A gearbox then transforms the slow rotations into faster ones (up to 1,800 per minute) that can power an electric generator.
Some wind turbines also have a battery that can store energy during non-windy days and be used as a backup during power outages. If you plan to connect your home wind turbine to the grid, check with your local utility company to determine what they require before you invest in a turbine.
Several factors affect how much energy a turbine can produce, including the site location, tower height and tower size. A taller tower will allow the turbine to produce more electricity in high winds.
Another factor to consider is the quality of the local wind conditions. A wind map can help you evaluate a site for potential wind energy.
A wind turbine is a significant investment, so you should know the cost of installing one before deciding on whether or not to install it. You should also review the potential savings and return on investment.
Battery Storage
Battery storage, also referred to as battery energy storage systems (BESS), is becoming increasingly important as part of the planning process for home renewable energy systems. These energy-efficient devices can capture and store power generated by solar and wind systems to help smooth out cycles between supply and demand.
The technology uses batteries to store energy, much like your cell phone battery stores your data. It can support renewables by keeping electricity when it is cheap and discharging it when the price of electricity is high or during power outages. The system connects to the power grid and your home’s electric panel and can be configured to either power your entire house or only a portion of it.
A typical battery system will consist of a battery, inverter, wiring and backup power configuration, and energy management and communication software. It may store as much as 10 kilowatt hours of storage power.
When a battery is fully charged, it can supply the power needed to operate all your electrical appliances and equipment for up to 10 days. Some systems can recharge the battery once every few hours; others offer an automatic charge/discharge schedule.
In addition to reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced, battery storage can boost the overall performance of renewables and cut down on transmission costs.
