Solar energy is the most reliable form of renewable energy available to people on earth. It is the way we start and end the day, the coming of sunlight.

Sunlight can be used to produce electrical power for your home’s electric appliances. A connected group of solar cells, referred to as a solar panel or sometimes solar module, convert light energy into usable solar energy. Electrical direct current power is produced in photovoltaic (PV) panels that convert the photon energy of light into electrical energy. These PV active solar cells are made from crystalline silicon, which is a semiconductor material. That process is explained a little later below.

Solar energy is the most popular of sustainable renewable power sources. Solar energy is a clean, quiet and renewable form of energy.

When you ask about solar energy you will learn there are advantages and disadvantages to using solar panels. No greenhouse gases that affect the environment are produced in making electricity from solar PV panels.

When installing solar panels, you have made a decision that should ultimately benefit your wallet. The initial cost of purchase and installation is high, but consider it as a pre-payment for future electricity you will get after installation at your premises.

Ask your installer about the solar panel and all of the components before you make your decision to buy. They should always be happy to answer whatever questions that you might ask.

Sunlight is made up of small particles of solar energy, which are known as photons. These photons contain packages of energy, which correspond to their particular wavelength in the solar radiation spectrum. When these photons of energy strike a PV cell their energy either gets reflected or absorbed and the energy absorbed aids the release of electrons to generate direct current. Direct current electricity is converted into usable alternating current with the help of an inverter. This alternating current flows through the electrical panel of the home and is distributed evenly.  

To generate more AC electricity, simply deploy the output from more solar cells into the inverter.

The video below explains the workings of the solar panel.

When you research solar energy, you will find there are many solar-powered products sold in the market.

Those range across solar powered transportation, solar lighting, solar heating, solar charging, rooftop solar and other solar applications. Solar PV panels absorb sunlight and change light energy into electrical direct current (DC) energy. That electricity can be used in various solar-powered lighting applications such as garden lights, street lights, deck post lights, and so on. Solar thermal energy can be used in solar water heating, solar HVAC, solar processed heat, solar oven cooking, and similar heat generating applications. Solar PV uses the photon energy of visible light from the sun while solar thermal applications use a lower frequency infrared light in the form of heat energy which is absorbed directly.

It is commonly believed that Greeks and the Chinese were able to utilize the sun’s energy for lighting and warmth. They used to consider the position of the sun when building a house or a building.  These principles are used and known as passive solar architecture. Ancient cultures in China and Greece (in the northern hemisphere) preferred building a south-facing home in order to utilize the maximum light and warmth of the sun.

Think of investing in any product and the first question is; "Well, what is the cost?" Maybe as an investor you are thinking of the savings, the return on investment or payback period? 

According to surveys in the US, consumers who invested in a 5kW solar PV system saved money.

Ask about solar energy and you will find the size of the solar system depends on several factors. Set your budget based on how much electricity (kWh) you currently use and how much you will need. The solar system design considers a range of issues; starting with the design of PV panels (size, shape, efficiency, brand name, types of panels) and how much space you have on your roof to fit panels. You may need to consider a free standing ground mount system if the roof is too small, facing the wrong way, has shadow issues from trees or structures, or is in poor condition.

What kind of property do you own? There will be different considerations for a rural shelter, suburban house, grouped dwelling or an apartment. How many people occupy the house, and how long do you intend to occupy the property each day? Getting answers to all these questions would help you make a right decision about kWh usage over a fixed period.

You ask about solar energy output and then choose a system to suit your needs. Residential solar systems range from 3.5kW to 15kW. If you need a larger array, a commercial solar system may be required to meet the needs.

Here are some approximate numbers for the size & energy produced by solar panels.

Solar thermal products can be used to heat a home. A well-designed solar thermal hot water system can function up to 40 percent more efficiently than a conventional systems. The same things that affect solar PV will influence Solar thermal systems. Orientation, elevation, hours of daylight, solar intensity and shading all impact the efficiency of the solar system.

Potential of shading during the day on the proposed location of solar panels is an important consideration in determining the effectiveness of the roof location for energy production. Therefore, it is important to consider the orientation of the roof plane when positioning of the solar panels on the roof when designing and installing the solar system. Solar panels should be placed to directly face the sun in order to access the maximum sunlight. In the passive solar design principles a building that has a south facing roof in the northern hemisphere will receive the greater sun irradiance during each day.

This is a good and important question to ask your solar PV roof top supplier/ installer. You might ask whether you can see the design for the panel layout plan for your roof. You need to know where the panels will be installed. The panels are laid in such a way that the array faces the sun directly for as much of the day as possible. Be as involved in the process as you can so that you make better choices.

Remember to ask your solar provider about the advantages and disadvantages of each component of the solar PV system.

Solar systems are easy to maintain.

There are no moving parts. The panels will generally require cleaning once or twice a year. When you clean your panel, make sure you take safety measures. If the panel array is very high up on the roof (multi-storey structure), make sure you use a ladder with good foot support, tied to the roof to prevent slipping and work on the roof with caution. Use a roof harness with restraints and have a second person on hand to ensure you remain safe during the cleaning works.

Don’t put cold water onto hot panels; it may crack and damage your panel glass cover.

If cleaning the roof panels is a task that you feel is too dangerous for you, get a quote from a cleaning company to do it for you. They will have experienced and skilled people who will use elevated working platforms and pressure wash equipment to ensure the job is done safely and competently without damage or fall risk.

Ensure that the company you are choosing to complete the installation of the solar PV panels and system can provide you a quality and complete competent service.

Online reviews on installers’ websites show what customers say about their services. Check what kind of service reviews they have for jobs done for others. (Not all their reviews are guaranteed to be listed). Ask about solar energy rebates and if included in how much they charge for the installation. Also see if there is a regular maintenance option. Getting answers to all these questions would help you make the right decision.  

See the Free Solar Installation Checklist if you intend installing solar. The comprehensive checklist list many questions and considerations to go through before making the decision.

People interested in installing solar systems ask about solar energy and the cost of the solar system. The cost of the solar system depends on its component specifications.

Various factors including the size of the system, location factors (rural isolation and safety issues), reputation of the manufacturer and retailer, the trade or supplier discounts available with your installation and government incentives available for the location will determine the final price. All these combined together become a price of the solar system.

The cost of a solar installation is around $3 per watt in the United States. A few years earlier, the cost of an installed solar system was around $8 per watt. The average cost of a solar system in 2017 was $3.16 per watt on EnergySage.

The sun has another 5 billion years or so life remaining at current brightness.

The future of solar energy remains bright. Solar PV panels are the centre-piece of any solar system. Solar fans, solar lanterns, solar mobile chargers, solar road safety equipment, solar home systems, etc. all start with a silicon based solar cell. The solar panels are relatively expensive because they are all purchased at one time to commence the project.

But once installed, the solar PV system will save money by generating reliable DC power every day that there is sun light.  The lifespan of the solar panels is around 25 years, which is a long term investment. Solar panels generate an independent constant supply of electricity that will reduce your monthly power bills. If you conserve power already and want to move saving a little further, ask about solar energy.

With solar-powered systems becoming more popular, there has been an increase in appliances manufactured for solar 12v electricity in the last few years.

More people understand the advantages of solar energy, and more people become more efficient by utilizing this technology to reduce their electricity bills.

There are a lots of opportunities available to create a solar world.  

Innovation will create smaller PV cells and new applications for them. Small cells will fit into smaller spaces. Solar researchers can stack very thin PV cells into the same space to make the panels produce more electricity from the same space. Putting reflectors and using double sided PV cells are ways being tried to increase output of PV per square meter.

Solar energy is one component of the future energy solution. People are clearly interested in the environment, in ecology and economy (saving their funds) so they ask about solar energy. It has a small share of the energy output now so there is a long way to go.

The improving technology has been playing a role in making the processes of manufacture simpler. The adaption of solar PV energy is easy and implementing solar energy into power grid networks is effective.

More people are becoming interested in using the natural energy of the sun to heat water and power electrical appliances of homes and business.

There are a plethora of ready to install solar-powered products to help consumers reap the benefits of solar technology.

Click he​​re to check out one of the many solar panel kits from Amazon for the DIY enthusiast.