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ANSWERS:
1. How does a Grid Connect System work?
Solar panels or photovoltaic cells are usually installed on the north side your roof (where it has the most exposure) in order to capture energy from the sun, which is then converted to electricity.
By installing a Grid Connect System, your home and/or business will be connected to the main electricity grid that supplies power to your local area. As your system produces electricity, any excess electricity that you do not use is then fed back into the grid. For those times when you need more electricity than what you are producing, your Grid Connect System automatically transfers it back from the grid.
2. How long have solar panels been around?
The first solar cells were made in the 1880s. Modern solar panels were developed during the 1950s.
3. What is a grid connected solar power system?
When the solar panels on your roof are connected to your existing commercial electricity supply, the solar system is said to be grid connected.
4. How much energy will my Solar System produce?
A 1 Kilowatt system will (on average) produce around 4.5 Kilowatts a day. A 1.5 Kilowatt system will (on average) produce around 6.75 Kilowatts of energy a day. The exact amount of energy produced depends on such factors as panel angle, temperature and weather conditions.
5. Can I use Solar Panels to power my home?
Solar Panels can be used to power your entire electrical home'ssystem, including lights, cooling systems, and appliances. Today, Solar Power systems can be easily blended into and suit the appearance of both traditional and non-traditional homes. The most common practice is to mount the Solar Panels onto a north-facing roof.
6. Does the solar system require maintenance?
Once the system has been installed on your roof little maintenance is required. It is, however, recommended to check and clean the Solar Panels periodically to prevent the build up of dirt and grime which can affect the output.
7. Will shading effect the power production of the solar system?
Yes, if any part of the Solar Panels are in shade the output of the system will be significantly affected.
8. Will my solar power system work during a black out?
No, the system will automatically shut down within a few milliseconds of losing grid voltage and stay off until power is restored to the electrical grid system. This is to ensure the safety of the grid to all users.
9. Why is Solar Energy good for the environment?
The ‘clean’ energy produced by Solar Panels does not contribute to climate change. There are no pollution, noise or costly fuel bills. Now you can produce your own renewable energy at home.
10. How much can greenhouse gas emissions be reduced by Solar Energy?
A standard home produces on average 4,500kg of greenhouse gases each year. By installing Solar Panels, your home’s gas emissions can be reduced to an average of 2,500kg. You will stop the release of around 40,000 Black Balloons every year.
11. How does a Solar Panel System save our precious water?
Each kWh (Kilowatt Hour) of electricity produced by Coal Fired electricity uses 2.5 litres of water. By installing a 1Kw Home Solar Panel System you will be saving the environment around 3,750 litres of water every year.
12. How much will it cost to run?
There are no running costs. Once your Solar Panel System is installed the electricity is free.
13. Who will buy my excess energy?
All of the power retailers will purchase the surplus power produced from your Solar Power System. There are also Green power companies who specialise in renewable energy. Generally your surplus power will be credited to your power bill account on a one for one basis.
So what about Wind Turbines?
1. Why do we need it?
In order to avoid continued dangerous climate change, we need to reduce greenhouse emissions by at least 60% by 2050. Electricity generation accounts for about one third of Australia's emissions. We can start the transition to clean, emission-free energy, without any delay, by using wind power.
2. What is wind power?
We have used wind power in Australia for a long time. Wind-powered water pumps have become an icon of the Australian outback. Less well known is the fact that many isolated farms generated their own electricity from converted airplane propellers in the 1930's and 1940's. Wind energy has come a long way since then both in small, domestic installations and large, commercial wind farms powering thousands of homes.
3. How much wind is there globally?
By the end of 2004, there was 47,912MW of wind power installed world wide. Wind generated enough electricity for nearly double Australia's total residential consumption. Wind power is growing by nearly 16% per year and by 2009, the world wind electricity generation will be greater than Australia's total electricity consumption!
4. How much wind power is there in Australia?
Australia has some of the best wind resources in the world. Over coming years, South Australian wind farms are expected to generate up to three times as much electricity as the same sized wind farms in Europe. Germany has 40 times as much installed wind power as Australia, even though the same size wind farms here can expect more than double the output. At present, Australian wind farms already generate enough electricity to supply a quarter of a million homes.
5. How efficient are wind turbines?
Using a free and infinite fuel source - the wind - to meet our power needs is about as efficient as you can get. The technology is efficient too. Modern wind turbines are operational for 70-85% of the time. The exact figure is dependent on the location, technology, size, turbine reliability and wind conditions.
6. But what happens when the wind stops blowing?
Your electricity will still work in the usual way. Electricity grids are designed to cope with peaks and troughs in supply and demand, for example when we all put the kettle on during TV commercials or when a nuclear power station has a safety 'outage'. Power generated by other sources acts as a backup to ensure that you always have access to electricity. In instances of grid connected systems, the power will be fed back into your home from off the main grid. No loss of power will be experienced.
7. Can I use solar panels and wind turbines?
In areas where wind consistency is an issue, hybrid wind/solar solutions may also be explored. For instance, some areas of Australia experience substantial winds during winter months and long hours of sun during the summer months. These geographic situations are ideally suited to hybrid installations to capitalise on both wind and sun availability
8. Are wind turbines noisy?
Modern turbines are very quiet! Thanks to advances in technology, today's turbines should be quiet enough to cause no disturbances to people living within close vicinity. And compared to the noise and air pollution created my coal-fired power plants, noise from turbines usually goes unheard, masked by the noise of the wind in vegetation and trees.
9. Do wind turbines kill birds?
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the UK, in a statement supporting sustainable development of renewable energy, stated "the most serious long-term threat to wildlife...The available evidence suggests that appropriately positioned wind turbines do not pose a significant threat for birds."
Wind turbines, like any tall structures (ie. buildings, power lines, etc) present an obstacle for birds and will cause some fatalities. However, there are relatively few bird deaths from wind turbines compared with other human activity (ie. cars, trains, domestic pets).
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FAQ
