Harnessing the power of the sun and converting it to energy we can use for our every day needs is achieved through several methods. The two most common are the Photovoltaic system or PV system, that converts sunlight directly into electricity and the Concentrating Solar Power, or CSP system, which uses the heat from the sun instead of fossil fuel, to provide the heat to fuel a traditional power plant.
A photovoltaic panel is the most well known of the solar power systems. Iit consists of solar panels with special semiconductor materials inside that generate electricity upon contact with sunlight, thereby creating solar power. Solar power produced in this manner is clean, with no environmental impact and is a renewable source of energy that will save you money in the long run.
The power generated by the PV solar power system is routed to the house through a converter which changes the direct current electricity to the standard alternating current before being made available for use. This is pretty much the same as the utility company supplying the current through the circuit breaker panel in your home. Once the current passes through the inverter, it can either be stored in a backup system of batteries for nighttime use or sent directly to power your electrical appliances and lighting fixtures.
Homes or cabins in remote locations can be powered solely by a PV system when properly planned and installed. This is often much more cost effective than paying for the power company to connect you to the existing power grid, depending upon how far you are from the nearest utility pole. In some applications this can be miles, and cost the same or much more than a solar power system with no return on your investment.
The Concentrating Solar Power or CSP system utilizes what is known as solar-thermal technology. The CSP system uses an array of panels and mirrors that capture the heat from the sun and then transfer that heat either directly to a generator, or carried through fluids circulated through the panel system to a generator. The heat supplied by the CSP system is then used in place of coal or other fossil fuels to produce power on a large scale in a traditional power plant setting.
Solar power systems can offer better economic savings to business and individual customers alike. Utilizing solar power as a supplemental source of energy can reduce the monthly electric bills or in the case where solar power is the sole source, eliminate the electric bills altogether.
While its certainly true that installing a solar power system is by no means cheap, its also true that the return on your investment can well justify the initial outlay. Think of it this way, other major home improvement projects such as kitchen remodeling may add value to your home, but they wont pay you back until after you sell the house at a profit.