Solar rooftops are nothing but a rooftop photovoltaic power station. It is a system where electricity or thermal energy is generated through solar panels mounted on the rooftop of a building. These solar rooftops are used both for residences, as well as commercially, but predominantly for homes. Owing to the growing need to reduce the overall carbon footprint, more and more homeowners in Alberta are shifting towards using renewable sources of energy, like solar energy. As a result, solar rooftops are becoming increasingly common in residential units. Plus, who wouldn’t like the idea of being able to have their own solar plant? Imagine being able to generate electricity on your rooftop. You would not only save money on energy bills but also be self-sufficient in terms of power generation.
For all of you who have been planning to get solar panels installed on your rooftops, here is what you need to know about solar panels:
Before you plan on having a solar rooftop, you ought to know that there are three main types of solar rooftops namely - monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and amorphous.
Monocrystalline cells are cut from an ingot grown from a single large crystal of silicon. These panels are generally more expensive and space efficient. Polycrystalline cells are cut from an ingot made up of many small crystals of silicon. These are less expensive and have slightly lower heat tolerance. Amorphous is a thin small solar cell. These are thin, small panels made up of several layers of photovoltaic material. You can consult us to find out which one suits you the best.
2. Appliances supported by solar panels
All kinds of appliances are supported by solar panels. This includes air conditioners, coolers, television, heaters, routers, washing machine, etc. Solar panels convert solar energy into thermal energy or electricity that can be used to operate various types of appliances. In essence, you won't really be able to tell the difference between a home that is powered by solar panels ass opposed to a home that is powered by the standard power grid.
You can also opt for certain appliances that run purely on solar energy such as:
Solar water heater: Solar water heaters are becoming popular by the day. A set of photovoltaic panels captures heat energy from the sun to heat water for bathing, washing dishes, and other household chores. The units can be direct or indirect. A direct water heater passes heat energy directly into an insulated water tank, where it is then pumped throughout the house. Indirect systems use a series of refrigerant-filled tubes to transfer energy into the house, where it is then used to heat the water. Direct systems work best in areas that rarely experience freezing temperatures, while indirect systems can be used in almost any type of climate.
Solar ovens: A solar oven is a cooking appliance that runs on solar energy. It contains mini-solar or photovoltaic panels to collect and absorb heat energy from the sun. The oven uses this heat to operate and you can cook almost any type of food. Solar ovens provide a slow-cooking process similar to a Crock pot, and can only be used outdoors. Using an optional reflector, users can increase the temperature of these ovens up to 400 degrees, which means that cooking can be completed much more quickly.
3. Requirements for a roof to support solar panels
You cannot expect a roof that is predominantly away from sunlight to be suitable for installing solar panels. There are certain requirements for your roof to be considered to be suitable to support solar panels. To begin with, you need to check if you have sufficient space to install solar panels on your roof. Usually, panels with higher efficiency tend to occupy less space, whereas the ones with low efficiency occupy more space. Most importantly, it is always preferable if your roof is in good condition. If you feel that your roof will require repairs in the near future, then you should get it done before you install the solar panels.
4. Efficiency of solar panels
This is one of the prime aspects of what you need to know about solar panels. Usually, good solar panels have an efficiency of over 21%, while the average range is between 15% -18%. These numbers might seem low, but most of the modern solar panels are able to produce enough solar energy to power an entire household. With time, it is highly likely that the solar panels will be upgraded for higher efficiencies. The solar panels we provide are highly efficient. The natural flow of electricity also makes it possible for you to sell the excess electricity generated by the solar panels back to the electrical grid.
5. The choice of solar technology
The two dominant solar technologies to pick from are photovoltaic, which uses an array of cells to turn sunlight into electricity, and thermal, which uses sunlight to heat water or air for use. A solar thermal investment is an apt solution for those homes that require a lot of energy for heating or a place where heating fuel is expensive as compared to electricity.
With this information, we hope you are inspired to get solar panels installed on your rooftop. Your one decision can make all the difference in the world’s quest to rely on renewable sources of energy and reduce the overall carbon footprint.