Typical Solar Energy Systems
Solar power was first applied in space, by providing electricity to satellites. Today, solar can be used to power just about anything on Earth. Solar energy systems operate in two basic forms.
ON GRID FOR RESIDENTIAL
These solar energy systems are connected to a broader electricity grid. During the day, the electricity generated by the solar system is either used immediately or feed into the electricity. Recent years have seen rapid growth in the number of installations of on grid solar power systems on to residential homes, schools and buildings that are connected to the electricity grid. This area of demand has been stimulated in part by government subsidy programmes (Solar Credits Scheme) and by feed in tariffs legislated in each state. In the evening, when the on grid system is unable to supply immediate power, electricity can be bought back from the electricity grid. The central driving force though comes from the desire of individuals or companies to obtain their electricity from a clean, non-polluting, renewable source.
ON GRID FOR BUSINESS
Apart from residential homes, any building connected to the electricity grid can install an on grid solar power system. Community buildings like schools and libraries, government buildings and industrial / commercial properties are all turning to solar power to hedge against the rising cost of electricity and to demonstrate their environmental creditials.
With high rise buildings, skylights and atria can be covered with building intergrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Which can be semi-transparent to provide shaded light. The vertical walls of office buildings provide several opportunities for incorporating solar power. Sunshades may have the solar power system mounted externally to the building or have PV cells specially mounted
between glass sheets comprising the window.
Off Grid (or stand alone)
These solar energy systems are used in isolation of any electricity grid and may be used to power a range of applications off grid. In an off-grid solar power system the appliance (or energy load) has no connection to the utility grid and often relies on a bank of batteries to store power for use at night and during periods of limited sun.
Radio repeater stations in Australia were the first to start using the power of the sun, even before on grid systems were technically available.
Solar power is frequently used in consumer product applications which require small amounts of energy like calculators. Other smaller off grid applications are found within the Recreation Vehicles (RVs) market. Where caravans, motorhomes, camping and boating all require electricity usually via a battery bank.
Apart from off-grid homes, other remote buildings such as schools, community halls, and clinics can all benefit from solar power. They can power TV, video, washing machines and a range of refrigeration equipment. Rather than base solar power generation on individual dwellings, it is also possible to configure solar power plants that can either power housing developments or whole regional toens and communities centres.
Solar power can be used to pump water in remote areas as part of a portable water supply system. Larger off-grid systems can be constructed to power larger and more sophisticated electrical loads by using an array of PV modules and having more battery storage capacity. To meet the largest power requirements in an off-grid location, the PV system is sometimes best configured with a small diesel generator. This means that the PV system no longer has to be sized to cope with the worst sunlight conditions available during the year. The diesel generator can then provide the back-up power, but its use is minimised during the rest of the year by the PV system, so fuel and maintenance costs are kept low.
Solar energy can also power area lighting to enable more outdoor activities after dark or improve security conditions in a remote community, and to illuminate signs or advertising boards.
Off grid for Industrial
Industrial solar applications are virtually endless. Solar powered communication systems, rural payphones, satellite ground stations, radio transceivers, lighting in local suburban parks and even road signs and school crossing signs.
For many years, Solar Energy has been the power supply of choice for Industrial applications, where power is required at remote locations or off grid. This means in these applications solar power is often economic, without subsidy and the only solution. The examples are powering repeater stations for microwave, TV and radio, telemetry and radio telephones. Solar energy is also used on transportation signalling with offshore navigation buoys, lighthouses, aircraft warning lights on pylons and increasingly for variable messaging for road traffic warning signals. Solar is used to power environmental and situation monitoring equipment and corrosion protection systems (based on impressing a current) for pipelines, well-heads, bridges or other structures. As before, for larger electrical loads it can be cost effective to configure a hybrid power system that links the PV with a small diesel generator. Solar's great benefit here is that it is highly reliable and requires little maintenance so it's ideal in places that are hard to get to.
