SOLAR ENERGY

Alternative Energy
Alternative Energy is any form of energy derived from non-conventional sources. There are several forms of alternative energy including: solar, wind, biofuel, geothermal, tidal power and several other forms. Each form of energy is suitable for certain environments and certain regions depending on the climatic and geographical characteristics of the region.

Compared to conventional fossil fuels, alternative energy systems such as solar systems are Clean: they don’t harm the environment by producing toxic gases and don’t contribute to greenhouse effects as the case in burning crude or fuel oil. They are Renewable: they never run out and require no fueling. Nor do they use up natural resources. They are Economical on the long run: Although higher initial cost they have little or no operating expenses, which means no monthly billing.

In the Middle East, Solar Energy is by far the most practical and most suitable alternative to conventional power this is largely due to the fact that solar irradiation in this region is relatively high making it more economical to apply than other regions of the world. A solar system in Saudi Arabia can produce 3 times the power produced from the same system in Northern Europe for example. The two main types of solar energy are Photovoltaic (PV) and solar Thermal. In PV applications, electric power is generated, while in thermal applications, heat is generated for water heating and building heating systems.

Solar Energy is a clean Alternative to conventional Energy and it is divided into two main categories, Photovoltaic (PV) and solar Thermal. In PV applications, electric power is generated, while in thermal applications, heat is generated for water heating and building heating systems.

A Typical PV System Consists of:
- Solar Panels whose function is to convert sun light into electricity.
- Charge controllers, which regulate the charging and protect the battery system from over-charging and deep discharge while controlling the load.
- Batteries, which store the excess electricity for use during nighttime and overcast when sun light is not available.
- Inverters may also be needed to convert the DC power to AC making it suitable for conventional applications.

Advantages of Solar Energy:
- Clean Energy: no fume, no smoke, and no noise.
- Renewable Energy never runs out.
- Reliable: Stable source of power.
- Economical: no monthly bill and very little maintenance.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy:
- Relatively high initial cost.
- Not suitable for extremely high loads.
- Large systems require space for erecting panels / collectors.