In the present day world, most countries agree that concentration of greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere has reached dangerous proportions. Hence, the need to reduce these gases is recognized by one and all. Since the traditional fossil fuel based power sources release vast amounts of these gases which contribute to global warming, countries have opined that only solar energy must be used to generate electricity. In the US considerable efforts are being made to introduce residential solar power in homes. For example, the “Million Solar Roofs program by 2017”, attempts to convince every home to opt for solar power by the year 2017.



How can residential solar energy be made available to homes? Two alternative ways spring to attention at once. The first is the traditional way of placing solar panels at such points so that they receive maximum sunlight for most parts of the day. These solar panels are generally made up of photovoltaic cells. Residential power can also be made available by changing the basic pattern of the construction of a house, in which the solar panels are present in the edifice. In case the traditional method of setting up solar panels is preferred, we need to look at the different varieties of their constituent photovoltaic cells.

The Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell panel comes with a plate glass surface that is transparent, a back layering of Tedlar, and uses, as encapsulate, ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA). These components are arranged properly by the exterior aluminum frame. Now, as soon as sunlight hits these solar panels, the organized structure of the atoms results in the sunlight being transformed to DC power. This DC output is then converted to usable 120 volts of AC electricity, by using inverters. The battery banks present in these panels help to store away any surplus electricity that might remain. This unutilized electric current can then be sold off to nearby utilities, provided the panel is grid-tied.

The Thin Film Solar panel, on the other hand, is a cheaper solar panel. Its lower price is mainly due to the lower amounts of semiconductor materials used in manufacturing them. The three basic working models of these solar panels (viz, the amorphous Silicon (a-Si), the cadmium telluride (CdTe) and the copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) ) all can function at high efficiency levels. These panels can be put up directly on the roofing shingles of houses, and this gives the modular design of the house a decided boost.

In order to obtain a two-fold yield (when compared to the traditional solar cells), a combination of the thin film technique and the crystalline silicon cells, termed the ‘String-ribbon' is used. This solar panel makes use of a molten process, conducted at high temperatures, in order to generate residential solar energy.

The basic items of all photovoltaic cells are the solar panels. However, these cells also need a flexible, mounting structure because this helps ensure that the panels receive as much sunlight as possible. The sunrays are effectively trapped, and DC current is obtained as output. An inverter is kept in tow that converts the DC output to usable 120 volt AC electrical power, quickly and automatically. Any surplus amounts of electricity should be kept in reserve, so that they can be used at night. This is done by the storage appliances of the system. A charge controller, that can be easily used, is also provided, so that the battery performance can be maintained at the optimum level.

Those who use photovoltaic cell solar panels find grid-tied panels to be much more advantageous. Indeed, being connected to the utility network has a couple of clear cut benefits. Firstly, and very importantly too, all unused and surplus amounts of electricity produced by the cells can be resold to the utility (or, the grid). As a result, savings on electrical expenses receive a great boost. Indeed, it is not uncommon to find the entire charges on electricity being offset by the money earned by selling the surplus electric current generated by the solar panels. Secondly, these cells ensure that enough power is available even when the sky is cloudy (solar power generation is low) and during nights (when there is no solar power generation).

Off-grid domestic solar power also finds considerable usage, chiefly in homes at faraway lands, log cabins in forests as well as in tents set up in wildernesses. Usage of propane, diesel or gasoline can be made to power these engines as a last resort, when other options do not succeed. Considerable battery backups are required by these hybrid off-grid residential solar energy generators. This ensures that adequate power can be drawn upon, during the nights, as well as during a cloudy day.

Governments, both at the federal and the state levels, are considerably encouraging the usage of residential solar energy in all homes. Solar power uses a freely abundant raw material (i.e., sunlight). Nor are there any running costs of using solar energy. In view of all these benefits, more and more people are gradually starting to use solar power for domestic purposes.

It is good to find a reference manual on residential solar power because this comes in as very handy. Such a manual will include details regarding how to install a residential solar energy system, the ideal part of the home to do so, and the ways to get hold of free batteries and relatively cheaper accessories that are required in the system. The manual would also explain the wiring mechanism and provide adequate safety advice too. Armed with all this information, you are sure to find it very easy to set up your residential solar power system and use it too.