/r/solarpower

Photograph via snooOG

The Solar Power Reddit


The Solar Power Reddit

Solar Power - the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), indirectly using concentrated solar power, or a combination. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaic cells convert light into an electric current using the photovoltaic effect.

Photovoltaics were initially solely used as a source of electricity for small and medium-sized applications, from the calculator powered by a single solar cell to remote homes powered by an off-grid rooftop PV system. Commercial concentrated solar power plants were first developed in the 1980s. The 392 MW Ivanpah installation is the largest concentrating solar power plant in the world, located in the Mojave Desert of California.

As the cost of solar electricity has fallen, the number of grid-connected solar PV systems has grown into the millions and utility-scale solar power stations with hundreds of megawatts are being built. Solar PV is rapidly becoming an inexpensive, low-carbon technology to harness renewable energy from the Sun. The current largest photovoltaic power station in the world is the 850 MW Longyangxia Dam Solar Park, in Qinghai, China.

The International Energy Agency projected in 2014 that under its "high renewables" scenario, by 2050, solar photovoltaics and concentrated solar power would contribute about 16 and 11 percent, respectively, of the worldwide electricity consumption, and solar would be the world's largest source of electricity. Most solar installations would be in China and India. Currently, as of 2016, solar power provides just 1% of total worldwide electricity production but growing 33% per annum.

Wiikipedia: solar power


Related Reddits


/r/solarpower

4,086 Subscribers

0

Explore a Solar Power Plant in Virtual Reality | VR in Power Industry

0 Comments
2023/05/30
05:27 UTC

2

Help with solar power

Ok, saw someone make an automatic chicken coop door using one of these wifi, smart water valve controllers. I wanna do something similar but don't have electric running to my coop. So I thought I could try solar. But, I am pitiful at understanding electricity at best, even worse when you add solar in. Can someone explain to me what I would need or recommend some place to start learning and where to buy what I would need to make this work? And really explain it as if I am dumb. Please. I know that I will want it to work on rainy or cloudy days still so will probably have to have some sort of battery backup.

1 Comment
2023/05/29
02:36 UTC

5

Anyone know of any reasonably priced pluggin solar powered lights for a patio? I got some for $25 and they barley did anything.

2 Comments
2023/05/24
06:15 UTC

4

I made this video about Solar Power with a friend in the Solar business....any feedback?

6 Comments
2023/05/13
17:07 UTC

3

Spruce Power Failing To Honor Warranty

Looking for anyone else who has Spruce Power for their PPA on a solar lease. What has your experience been in reaching out to them when you've had an issue with your account? We had our net meter go offline in June 2022 and it took nine months to get the part ordered and replaced. That only happened because we threatened to sue them.

Now they're refusing to give credits back on the account for the time the system was offline after promising to make the adjustments once the system had been repaired. We've sent them copies of the contract signed that states whoever holds the PPA is responsible for those repairs and credits.

It takes months for a response to complaints and you only get a reply if you continue to call in...no one calls you about the problem. Looking to see if there are others with similar issues. The Attorney General of CT just announced an official investigation into them. This is the third "Spruce Power" as the first two have declared bankruptcy and they roll their assets into a new company.

The AG in NV has not responded to multiple requests for help. Spruce does not respond to any BBB complaints made against them. Texas doesn't seem to care at all (where they're located).

0 Comments
2023/05/11
16:46 UTC

1

What is the goal for percentage of world power?

So simple question...

What is the goal percentage that Solar would make up for world energy?

And where are we at now?

0 Comments
2023/05/09
21:19 UTC

1

Is my calculation correct?

Hi! I was asking ChatGPT how to calculate estimated average daily PV power output and it provided me with a formula:
Daily Power Production (kWh) = Power Rating (W) x Surface Area (m²) x Efficiency x Solar Irradiation (kWh/m²/day) x Peak Sun Hours

As ChatGPT is bad at math I tried to calculate it myself, for a single 500W panel. I live in Atyrau, so I got Solar irradiation figures from here ( ranging from 1.91 kWh/m2/day in December to 5.46 in July), got Average peak sun hours for my region from ChatGPT itself (1.32 in Dec to 8.19 in June; don't know how much I can trust these numbers).
Based on my calculations, it seems that I can save around $25 on my electricity bill per year. So a panel that costs $136 will pay off in 5,5 years. And that's not including the cost of an invertor, materials and work.
I understand that these are rough estimates, but I'm wondering if this formula is generally correct, and if there are any sources for more accurate data. Another question I have is whether the power output and effectiveness of solar panels increase proportionally with the number of panels installed, or if it grows non-linearly ? Any insights or resources on this topic would be helpful. Thank you!

1 Comment
2023/05/03
11:54 UTC

1

What specs devices do I need to recharge my scooter?

Hi everyone, I was just wondering what minimum specs am I looking for if I want to recharge my e-scooter from some solar panels. Do I still need an inverter? What should my panel/s and battery's minimum capacity be? Thanks in advance!

5 Comments
2023/05/02
12:55 UTC

0

Quick spreadsheet reveals time to payoff > 40 years @ 7%, infinite at 8 percent for photovoltaic installation

Not including time of use rate adjustments or whatever.
Figures assumed:

$2200 per kWh of installed capacity

1166 kWh of electrical energy harvested.

$0.165 per kWh (actual net average taken from my bill)

$169 net return per year
Maintenance cost, $27.5 per year.

Of course, just don't invest, yeah, but I'm saying there is a big difference between the societal excitement and reality here... clearly there are better investments and the margin is large enough this is bound to be true for a lot of people. There is a gap here between the societal narratives and reality.

Similar calculations for an energy recovery ventilator gives about 8 years till return on investment. And yet there are government subsidies for photovoltaic, while I see nothing for an ERV. This is using data on insolation as well as heating degree days for Ottawa, Ontario.

9 Comments
2023/04/30
21:15 UTC

9

Regulators shut down solar installer in Knoxville, Tennessee, leaving hundreds without promised power

0 Comments
2023/04/28
02:02 UTC

4

How to bypass batteries

Hello guys, how to feed solar power directly into the inverter or the electric motor I need, and take from batteries only when there is no sun?

Do I need a special inverter or just a special charge controller?

12 Comments
2023/04/07
21:35 UTC

2

Have a 2hp pool pump that needs to be driven via solar.

Ideally 4-6 hours a day. Can't afford a DC motor for it. What suggestions do you guys have?

1 Comment
2023/04/04
05:13 UTC

2

Have a 2hp pool pump that needs to be driven via solar

Ideally 4-6 hours a day. Can't afford a dc motor for it. What suggestions do you guys have?

3 Comments
2023/03/30
05:59 UTC

2

Panels putting out weird power...

I'll be 100% up front, I'm not good with electrical, and this was my first time actually using a multimeter. No shit. But I did watch like 3 youtube videos to make sure I was doing it right.

I have 2 of those trickle panels that plug into a 12v in your dash to charge your battery when it sits for a while. I was having issues with my truck not having enough charge after sitting for a day or so... so I wanted to know if these things were even helping.

One panel registered -19-ish volts, and one registered -0.2-ish volts. Is this even right?? This was on a full sun day, in direct light.

https://preview.redd.it/supa3f38l7x91.jpg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=63da738a025d6f75f10db2bee84cc6d13aad3931

https://preview.redd.it/7zr9zf38l7x91.jpg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=21ebfe90180a1f1e0f2557f12a3bb11973375394

https://preview.redd.it/eyyqfi38l7x91.jpg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=a3d6cc37aec5582f54d0683d664d06feca212bb6

4 Comments
2022/10/31
21:25 UTC

0

Is solar power unhealthy?

Sorry if this is a dumb question but aside from crazy blog websites I have found no information on this. I heard that solar power can cause unhealthy amounts of dirty energy for the people that have them on their homes. Is this true? Thank you in advance!

16 Comments
2022/08/30
19:41 UTC

3

any cable assistance please?

So I've got 450w worth of panels screwed to a wall outside the house.

It's 3 panels, wired in parallel to be fed to a controller inside the house, connected to a 12v system.

The issue is, how do I safely run the cabling on the external wall without causing problems or unecessary fire hazards/risks? The cable will need to be run about 10 meters.

I'm using a prexisting hole in the wall about a foot up from the ground as it's route inside. I was going to buy this wire (4.5mm2 variant);

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201916783966?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=j-hKEWEeRMu&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=4e7OZqIzRVC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

And Run it inside a plastic conduit along the exterior of the wall from the panels.

Would this suffice or am I totally way off here?

Any advise or criticism is gratefully received. Thanks!

1 Comment
2022/08/29
11:09 UTC

4

Charging batteries from the grid while simultaneously powering a load from the batteries

Hi all, I am creating a special project which requires the use of battery chargers and inverters. The load must be powered by the inverter at 220-240VAC, and the batteries charged by a 110-120VAC input (although a wide range of 110 – 240VAC is ideal). The battery pack is composed of paralleled 48VDC LiFePO4 modules. I first thought of buying these components separately but most inverters are already capable of charging batteries so I thought I might use only one device.

Due to a power and/or voltage difference between input and output, this device must draw power from the grid while simultaneously injecting power into the load by the inverter; any difference in the power injected and being drawn is provided by the batteries.

My questions are only two:

  • Is there a charge controller and inverter combo with a 110Vac input and 220Vac output?
  • Is it capable of doing both simultaneously? (Without bypassing the grid to the output)

I know it is a lot to ask but thanks in advance.

1 Comment
2022/08/26
16:37 UTC

5

Solar Power

Anyone get a 3kw system put in, is it worth it in Ireland, the cost of installation up front the way things are going now with the cost of electricity going up. Advice on government grant what kind of quotes are people getting is it worth going for gov grant or going alone I heard with the amount of paper work. Just looking for advice thank you.

0 Comments
2022/08/26
14:14 UTC

2

Cost Of Removing and Reinstalling Solar Panels For Replacing Roof 1...

Homeowners ask.... What if I need to replace roof after solar panels installed? What is cost and what needs to be replaced? I answer this in very short video. Note: No promotion or sales pitch .. just sharing knowledge.

0 Comments
2022/08/20
04:27 UTC

3

Solar Flat Roof in Canada?

Hey, I have a flat roof house in Ontario Canada and I need to replace my whole roof... I'd like to do a solar installation at the same time.

Does anyone have any suggestions or things to keep in mind when trying to find a contractor/etc so I can get the most current technology and not something outdated?

Any input would be appreciated!

3 Comments
2022/08/17
16:58 UTC

34

Genuine question: Is this how solar power works?

126 Comments
2022/08/14
12:55 UTC

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