Solar Power Generation
Solar energy: what you need to know
Our engineering capabilities help us design cost-efficient projects, which are backed by a thorough analysis of the land, solar radiation, grid connection infrastructure and emerging technologies. Our project design also considers various factors such as the geographical location, climate conditions, temperature and its impact on equipment, local facilities as well as potential maintenance requirements. We thus ensure that all our capital investment projects are carried out after considering and studying the risks involved.
Solar power is simply usable energy generated from the sun in the form of electric or thermal energy. Solar energy is captured in a variety of ways, the most common of which is with a photovoltaic solar panel system, or PV system, that converts the sun’s rays into usable electricity. Aside from using photovoltaics to generate electricity, solar energy is commonly used in thermal applications to heat indoor spaces or fluids. Residential and commercial property owners can install solar hot water systems and design their buildings with passive solar heating in mind to fully take advantage of the sun's energy with solar technology.
Interested in benefiting from solar power? Solar panels are installed at three main scales: residential, commercial, and utility. Residential-scale solar is typically installed on rooftops of homes or in open land (ground-mounted) and is generally between 5 and 20 kilowatts (kW), depending on the size of a property. Commercial solar energy projects are generally installed at a greater scale than residential solar. Though individual installations can vary greatly in size and cost, commercial-scale solar arrays serve a consistent purpose: to provide on-site solar power to businesses and nonprofits. Finally, utility-scale solar projects are typically large, several megawatt (MW) installations that provide solar energy to a large number of utility customers.
For some solar shoppers who may not be able to install solar on their property due to cost or other factors, community solar is a viable solar option that more directly connects utility-scale solar energy projects to residential consumers. As such, community solar farms are typically built in a central location as opposed to on any single customer’s property. Residential consumers can subscribe to a community solar project to receive many of the benefits of solar power without installing solar panels on their property.
How do solar panels work? A solar panel (also known as a solar module) consists of a layer of silicon cells, a metal frame, a glass casing unit, and wiring to transfer electric current from the silicon. Silicon (atomic #14 on the periodic table) is a nonmetal with conductive properties that allow it to absorb and convert sunlight into usable electricity. When light hits a silicon cell, the light causes electrons in the silicon to be set in motion, initiating a flow of electric current. This is known as the “photovoltaic effect,” and it describes the general functionality of solar panel tech.
The science of generating electricity with solar panels boils down to this photovoltaic effect. It was first discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel and can be thought of as a property of specific materials (known as semiconductors) that allows them to create an electric current when they are exposed to sunlight.
The photovoltaic (or PV system) process works through the following broad steps:
1. The silicon photovoltaic solar cell absorbs solar radiation
2. When the sun’s rays interact with the silicon cell, electrons begin to move, creating a flow of electric current
3. Wires capture and feed this direct current (DC) electricity to a solar inverter to be converted to alternating current (AC) electricity
A brief history of solar power
In 1954, Bell Labs developed the first silicon photovoltaic cell. Although solar energy had previously been captured and converted into usable energy through various methods, only after 1954 did solar power begin to become a viable source of electricity to power devices over extended periods of time. The first solar cells converted solar radiation to electricity at an efficiency of 4 percent - for reference, many widely available solar panels today can convert sunlight to solar power at above 20 percent efficiency, a number constantly on the rise.
The cost of solar energy
Concurrent with an increase in solar efficiency, the cost of solar panels has fallen substantially. In the last decade alone, the cost of a solar panel installation fell over 60 percent, and many industry experts predict that prices will continue to fall in the years to come: Additionally, depending upon where you live, several rebates or incentives for solar power may contribute towards lowering the cost of solar energy even further. Nationwide, the MNRE is one of the primary incentives available to anyone interested in solar energy. Many states and utilities offer further incentives (such as net metering) in addition to the MNRE, dropping the cost of solar power even further.
Solar energy is a renewable power source
Solar energy is a clean, inexpensive, renewable power source that is harness able nearly everywhere in the world - any point where sunlight hits the surface of the earth is a potential location to generate solar power. And since solar energy comes from the sun, it represents a limitless source of power. Renewable energy technologies generate electricity from resources that are infinite. Compare, for instance, producing electricity with renewable resources to doing so with fossil fuels. It took hundreds of thousands of years for oil, gas and coal to form, so every time one of those resources are burned to create electricity, that finite resource is moved marginally closer to depletion. Using a renewable resource - such as wind, solar and hydropower - to generate electricity, does not deplete that resource. There will always be consistent sunlight shining on Earth's surface, and after turning sunlight into electricity, there is still an infinite amount of sunlight to turn into electricity in the future. That is what makes solar power, by nature, renewable energy. While the current electricity mix in the India/Globe is still made up largely of fossil fuels like oil and gas, renewable energy sources like solar are steadily becoming a larger part of the country's energy profile. As the cost of solar and other renewable technologies continues to be competitive.
Should you go solar?
When it comes to installing solar panels and switching to an eco-friendlier energy source, there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. There are several factors worth considering to help determine if your home or business is a good candidate for solar. When deciding to go solar, you should at least be asking questions like "How much do I spend on electricity?", "What type of home do I live in, and do I own it?", and "Is my roof suitable for solar? Is it old, how big is it, what's the angle, etc.?".
Perhaps the most impactful question is the first one: the more electricity you use, and the more you pay for it, the more you will save by going solar. Next, if you live in a multi-family home or rent the property, it will be much more difficult to install solar than if you own a single-family home. Lastly, the ideal roof for solar would be one that’s in good condition, is southern-facing, and receives plenty of direct sunlight. If some of these characteristics aren’t aligned with your situation but you’re still interested in going solar, read our article about if solar is right for you for more information on whether you’re a good fit.
Solar energy + battery storage, electric vehicles and more
The rapid proliferation of solar power nationwide and globally has also led to parallel growth in several adjacent areas. Notably, energy storage systems and electric vehicles are two sectors poised to explode alongside solar power by augmenting the benefits of solar. Given that solar panels can only produce power when the sun is shining, storing produced but unused energy throughout the day for use at a later time has become increasingly important. For instance, solar batteries store electricity and can be drawn on during periods of low solar production. What’s more, solar-plus-storage solutions work for all scales of solar panel installations and provide many added benefits, from energy reliability to grid resiliency and lower-cost power.
Electric vehicles are a second product poised to ride the wave of solar energy adoption. With lower maintenance costs, lower fuel costs, and a lower environmental footprint than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles are set to be an important piece of the automobile industry for years to come. With increasing electric vehicle adoption also comes a growing need for electricity to run the vehicles, a perfect fit for solar energy. Distributed solar installations provide cheap and reliable power for electric vehicles directly from the sun. In a world of increased electrification throughout the home, solar power is one of the most inexpensive, reliable, and cleanest ways to fuel our electrified future.
You’re convinced. You know that solar saves money, makes a positive environmental impact, is reliable, and you’re ready to go solar!
But…how do you get started? Start by choosing a Aakash solar that delivers long-term value.
Aakash Solar is nothing less than a trustworthy installer that performs a high-quality solar installation of reliable, equipment, and will provide long-term customer care, with a rock-solid warranty partner.
If you follow these tips when evaluating a product or partner, this makes us confident that your solar installation is a long-term, headache-free, profitable investment.
Equipment
Not all solar equipment is created equal. As with many other things in life, you get what you pay for. Higher quality equipment may cost more up front, but the difference will be better power-production, leading to higher, longer-lasting savings. Aakash Energy Solar team always Look for tier-1 equipment, and evaluate the pros and cons of installing older technology such as a string inverter vs. using newer, more reliable micro-inverters. The system will last longer, and experience less degradation and down time in the long run, meaning less cost and headache for you!
Our Goal for a Strong Warranty
A strong warranty is a good sign that the company is selling trustworthy products. You need a warranty for more than just the solar panels! Pay attention to your long-term warranties for the 3 components of your installation including: · The panels · The inverter or microinverters · Labor and workmanship A 25-YEAR WARRANTY covering SOLAR PANELS, 2-5 YEAR MICROINVERTERS (or inverters) and LABOR means you can expect worry-free power production for years. Aakash Energy Solar equipment warranties are 25-year or more, and we provide a strong labor Services of years. * In Aakash Energy Solar we always strive to choose the best warranty and quality product OEM or Manufacturer and transfer the same provider knowledge to the customer
Evaluate the Company’s Service
At Aakash Energy Solar we always offer the product with industry and regulatory complaint warranty terms or more. As what happens if your system under performs? Does the manufacturer offer remote monitoring? As remotely monitoring helps proactively troubleshoots anything that compromises the power production etc. Although it is an optional thing to do. Solar is not viable in every situation. Under some conditions, solar panels cannot produce the amount of power needed. Aakash Energy Solar’s solar experts should inspect the area around your home for trees and other obstructions. You should never feel pressured into making a decision that is not financially sound. We at Aakash Energy Solar ensure the data that will demonstrate that solar is a financially sound decision for your situation.
Transparency
Aakash Energy Solar’s salesperson should be able to answer all your questions, and spend the time to explain the details of your quote. In order to make a good decision, we understand what the customer should expect to spend in any given month, how much that amount might vary (due to weather, time of year and other factors) and this data should be verifiable through third-party sources. PV Watts is a common third-party tool a company can use to demonstrate independently verifiable data about your proposed system.
Scope of Services Offered
Scope of Services Offered Oftentimes, a solar installation is only part of the upgrades you’re making to your home. For instance, you may find your roof space is not adequate to provide enough electricity for your home. Aakash Energy Solar also offer architecture and construction. A company with such resources can help creatively problem-solve, creating solutions such as pergolas, garages, long-lasting ground mounts and more.
Contractors vs. In-House Expertise
Aakash Energy Solar is in-house expertise to manage your solar installation. A team that works together can better manage quality control, scheduling, and will able to react more quickly and efficiently to situations that arise. We deal with the manufactures with industry needs like structural engineer, electrician, architect, and long-term customer care team in-house. To ensure all good sign that your installation will be managed efficiently and professionally. A photovoltaic power station, also known as a solar park, solar farm, or solar power plant, is a large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic power system (PV system) designed for the supply of merchant power. They are different from most building-mounted and other decentralized solar power because they supply power at the utility level, rather than to a local user or users. Utility-scale solar is sometimes used to describe this type of project.
Solar Park
This approach differs from concentrated solar power, the other major large-scale solar generation technology, which uses heat to drive a variety of conventional generator systems. Both approaches have their own advantages and disadvantages, but to date, for a variety of reasons, photovoltaic technology has seen much wider use. As of 2019, about 97% of utility-scale solar power capacity was PV. In some countries, the nameplate capacity of photovoltaic power stations is rated in megawatt-peak (MWp), which refers to the solar array's theoretical maximum DC power output. In other countries, the manufacturer states the surface and the efficiency. However, Canada, Japan, Spain, and the United States often specify using the converted lower nominal power output in MWAC, a measure more directly comparable to other forms of power generation. Most solar parks are developed at a scale of at least 1 MWp. As of 2018, the world's largest operating photovoltaic power stations surpassed 1 gigawatt. At the end of 2019, about 9,000 solar farms were larger than 4 MWAC (utility scale), with a combined capacity of over 220 GWAC. Most of the existing large-scale photovoltaic power stations are owned and operated by independent power producers, but the involvement of community and utility-owned projects is increasing. Previously, almost all were supported at least in part by regulatory incentives such as feed-in tariffs or tax credits, but as levelized costs fell significantly in the 2020s and grid parity has been reached in most markets, external incentives are usually not needed. Solar Renewable Energy Park Rajasthan Ltd (AREPRL) is a 50:50 Joint Venture Company (JVC) incorporated by Aakash Renewable Energy Park Ltd (AREPL) and Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd (RRECL), Government of Madhya Pradesh, under the Companies Act, 2013. The JVC has been formed under the provisions of the MNRE Scheme for development of solar parks and UMPPs 2014, wherein both the parties hold equal shareholding.
Aakash Energy Renewable Energy Park
An MoU has been signed with RRECL, the Government of Rajasthan’s nodal agency for the development of non-conventional energy sources, to develop solar parks with a cumulative capacity of 10,000 MW in a phased manner. As part of the first phase Aakash Renewable Energy Park Madhya Pradesh Ltd (AREPML) is developing a 500 MW capacity solar park in Agra, U.P. and 1,500 MW capacity solar park in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.