Solar Hub

Solar energy continues to increase in popularity in the U.S. market, with PV installations for both residential and nonresidential users growing exponentially in recent years. Solar may not be an ideal fit for everyone, however, and it is important to consider the advantages and disadvantages before committing to a solar energy system for your home. How Do I Know If My Roof Is Suitable For Solar Panels https://www.solarafter.com/how-do-i-know-if-my-roof-is-suitable-for-solar-panels Here are some of the primary pros and cons associated with residential solar energy systems: Pros • Reduces your electricity costs: The average U.S. household spends about $1,400 a year on electricity. A solar energy system can save you tens of thousands of dollars in electricity costs over the lifetime of the panels. • Increases the resale value of your home: A 2015 study by researchers at UC-Berkeley found that homebuyers on average were willing to pay $4,000 more per kilowatt of solar capacity when buyin...

Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun's energy and make it useable. As of 2011, the technology produced less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand. Many are familiar with so-called photovoltaic cells, or solar panels, found on things like spacecraft, rooftops, and handheld calculators. The cells are made of semiconductor materials like those found in computer chips. When sunlight hits the cells, it knocks electrons loose from their atoms. As the electrons flow through the cell, they generate electricity. On a much larger scale, solar-thermal power plants employ various techniques to concentrate the sun's energy as a heat source. The heat is then used to boil water to drive a steam turbine that generates electricity in much the same fashion as coal and nuclear power plants, supplying electricity for thousands of people. How to Harness Solar Power In one technique, long troughs of U-shaped mirrors focus sunlight on a pipe of oil that runs through...

How do you build a healthy solar business in a constantly changing market? Solar businesses have had to confront the effects of tariffs, changing incentives and many other new drivers of demand, which creates both opportunities and challenges for solar software. At the 2018 Solar Software Summit, MJ Shiao, formerly of Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables; and Paul Grana, of Folsom Labs; both took a deep look into how the industry has been affected by these changes, and how businesses can continue to thrive by using solar software. As MJ pointed out, the solar industry had a dim outlook entering 2018. Slowdowns were expected with the expected expiration of the ITC, and tariffs on solar modules also contributed to a slight decline in the market. Distributed solar was losing steam after years of record growth, and many solar installers stagnated or shrunk as well. Small commercial solar was expected to fade as its incentives disappear, and utility solar demand had begun to contract as w...