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Efficient Energy Saving |
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Grid Tie Solar PowerGrid tie solar power is a popular way to use solar electric panels. With grid tie, solar panels are connected to a mains inverter and surplus electricity generation is sold to the national grid, rather than being stored in batteries.The idea is simple - if a grid-tied home is generating more electricity than it uses during the day, this is made sold to the national grid on a feed in tariff and is available for other people to use. In the evening, when the grid-tied home is consuming more electricity than it is generating, it then takes electricity from the national grid. Grid tie is being sold as a way to reduce your carbon footprint and make a positive contribution to the environment.
Grid tie solar power disadvantagesUnfortunately, in the UK at least, the real benefits of grid-tie systems are questionable and there is a very real concern that these systems do nothing to reduce carbon emissions in the real world: during the day, the national grid has a surplus supply of electricity and power stations are still generating huge quantities of carbon emissions whilst standing idle. During the evening when everyone is demanding electricity, all the power stations are running at full capacity and additional power is provided by running diesel and gas powered generators.As grid-tied solar power does nothing to increase power availability during peak demand times, and households with a grid-tie solar system are consuming electricity themselves during peak demand periods, there is no environmental benefit for grid-tie in its own right. This is likely to change in the future as new designs of power stations become available and the national grid start storing electricity during off-peak times, but neither of these are short term goals and in the meantime, for most applications, grid tied solar electricity has no positive benefits to the environment New feed in Tariffs are to be set in the UK by the DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) and will come into force 1st April 2010. Most of the tariffs will be paid by energy suppliers
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Solar BookThe Solar Electricity Handbook is a simple, practical guide to using electric solar panels and designing and installing photovoltaic PV systems.
Solar Project AnalysisDo you have a solar project, but want to know if solar power is going to be suitable, then use the Solar Calculator on the Solar Electricity Handbook website.
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