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he basics of solar power.

Solar power is probably the cleanest, most viable form of renewable electricity available and it can be used in several forms to help power your property. Many gardens now use solar lights or solar garden water features. The availability and wide use of solar power in gardens shows exactly how flexible it is as a source of electricity. The technology and the systems are becoming smaller, more compact and better looking than when they were first created and used.

How do photovoltaic tiles work?

Simply put photovoltaic tiles and other forms of solar energy work by converting some of the energy in sunlight into a clean form of electricity that can be used in our buildings. The PV cells consist of a positive and a negative slice of silicon placed under a thin slice of glass. As the protons of the sunlight beat down onto the PV cell they knock the neutrons off the silicon. The negatively charged free neutrons are attracted to the silicon but are trapped by the magnetic field that is formed from the opposing fields. Small wires on the silicon catch these neutrons and when connected in a circuit an electric current is formed.

This reaction gives Direct Current electricity though, and it must be passed through an inverter to be converted into an Alternating Current used in our propertys to power any electrical items. Some of the power is lost in this part of the process as the inverter is only around 95% efficient but this is a much greater efficiency than was once available.

The nature of the PV cell means there is little or no maintenance required and there are no moving parts; this means that a typical PV cell can last up to 40 years with no work besides an annual clean.

How can I use them to power my building?
There are various ways to use solar power around the houseand not just for powering. You can use it to heat your hot water, heat your pool or even your central heating or if you have plenty of roof space and a reasonable amount of sun you can get a grid tie system; a grid tie system means that not only can you power your entire building but during those times when you create an excess of electricity you can sell it back to the grid. An efficiently solar powered home will be able to reasonably create between 75 and 100% of their own power and because of the grid tie system this means you may not have to pay for electricity ever again.



Canada Solar Group is an Ottawa Solar Powercompany that designs, installs, monitors and maintains solar electric energy systems under the Ontario MicroFIT Program, as well as, off-grid solar solutions.
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