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Solar Energynergy

Solar technology is cost effective, reliable, and environmentally sound. Energistx partners with the nation's leading designers, manufacturers and installers of grid-connected solar electric systems and kits for off-the-grid systems. We offer a full line of products including roof-mounted, ground-mounted, and canopy solar systems for private, industrial, commercial, and government applications. Join the growing number of forward thinking individuals, companies and government agencies that are investing in on-site solar generation and reaping the many benefits of harnessing the sun's abundant, free energy.


attention!If you are a manufacturer and have a portable ( user installed) integrated product or package that is ready for market, we feel that we have the best exposure on the web for these cutting edge technologies. Currently, the products offered here are for large systems that generally need to be installed by specialized solar contractors. So, if you are ready for market with your innovative green technology, call Energistx and let's bring it to the world!

30% Federal Rebate Available for Solar and other renewables and efficiency alternatives !
Click here for more information on STATE and FEDERAL REBATES!

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How Solar Cells Work
Solar cells are converters. They take the energy from sunlight and convert that energy into another form of energy, electricity. Solar cells convert sunlight to electricity without any moving parts, noise, pollution, radiation, or maintenance. The conversion of sunlight into electricity is made possible with the special properties of semiconducting materials.
Semi-Conductors
Most solar cells are made from silicon, the 14th element. Silicon is a "semi-conductor" or a "semi-metal," and has properties of both a metal and an insulator. Atoms in a metal have loosely bound electrons that easily flow when electrical pressure is applied, whereas atoms in an insulator have tightly bound electrons that cannot flow when electric voltage is applied. Atoms in a semi conducting material bind their electrons tighter than metals, but they may be manipulated to have conductive properties.
Solar cells are made by joining two types of semiconducting material: P-type and N-type. P-type semiconductors are manufactured to contain negative ions, and N-type semiconductors to manufactured to contain positive ions. The positive and negative ions within the semiconductor provide the environment necessary for an electrical current to move through a solar cell.

Sunlight Converted
At the atomic level, light is made of a stream of pure energy particles, called "photons." This pure energy flows from the sun and shines on the solar cell. The photons actually penetrate into the silicon and randomly strike silicon atoms. When a photon strikes a silicon atom, it ionizes the atom, giving all its energy to an outer electron and allowing the outer electron to break free of the atom. The photon disappears from the universe and all its energy is now in the form of electron movement energy. It is the movement of electrons with energy that we call "electric current."
Sunlight to Electricity
A typical solar cell consists of a glass cover to seal the cell, an anti-reflective layer to maximize incoming sunlight, a front and back contact or electrode, and the semiconductor layers where the electrons begin and complete their voyages. The electric current stimulated by sunlight is collected on the front electrode and travels through a circuit back to the solar cell via the back electrode.

PV System architecture
Solar cells alone cannot produce usable power. They need to be interconnected with other system components that ultimately serve a specific electrical demand, or ‘load’. PV systems can either be stand-alone, or grid-connected. The main difference between these two basic types of systems is that in the latter case, the PV system produces power in parallel with the electrical utility, and can feed power back into the utility grid if the onsite load does not use all of the PV system’s output.
When the sun is shining, the direct current electricity (DC) from the PV modules is converted to alternating current (AC) by the power of an electronic inverter, and then fed directly into the building power distribution system where it supplies electric power. Any excess solar power is exported to the utility power grid and any shortfall is made up with electricity supplied by the grid. During non-sun hours, the building load is supplied by utility power alone.
Following are the basic components of a PowerLight grid-connected photovoltaic system, which is illustrated in the diagram above:

PV modules
A number of photovoltaic cells electrically interconnected and mounted together, usually in a sealed unit of convenient size for shipping, handling and assembling into arrays. The term "module" is often used interchangeably with the term "panel."
Mounting technology/equipment
Used to mount the PV modules in place. Depending on the application, the PV modules can be mounted on rooftops, in parking structures, covered reservoirs and in open fields.
Combiner box
Where the electrical wiring from the PV modules is joined together in parallel to combine electrical currents.
Inverter
Converts the DC output of the PV system into usable AC output that can be fed directly into the building load.
Transformer
Used to step up or down the voltage emerging from the inverter to match the required voltage of the onsite load or the utility interconnection.
Load
The amount of electrical demand used in the building at any given time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photovoltaic Systems Characteristics

Photovoltaics (PV) were first used commercially in 1958 to power the Vanguard communications satellite. PV requires no moving parts and uses the sun as a source of energy. As a direct result of declining PV prices, practical applications for solar cells have steadily expanded from space missions to remote power and personal electronic devices. Since the mid 1990’s, PV has become a practical source of solar electric generation in the $800 billion electric power industry.
Although a number of new technologies, including fuel cells and micro-turbines, can generate electric power in a distributed or point-of-use fashion, solar electric power offers multiple benefits:


Reliable and low maintenance

With no moving parts, solar generation systems reliably power some of the world's most mission critical applications, from space satellites to microwave stations in remote and harsh environments.
Modular and scalable
Solar electric generation is highly scalable and can be deployed in many configurations, from hand-held devices to large grid-connected systems in urban centers anywhere in the world.
Zero emissions
Solar power produces no emissions and no noise. As a result, they can be easily sited in densely populated urban areas.
Renewable
Solar electric power is a 100% renewable energy source. Solar electric power systems provide the advantages of other distributed generation systems without fuel or regular maintenance requirements.
No fuel or infrastructure
Solar electric power is not dependent on the existence, development or maintenance of a fuel delivery infrastructure, nor is it dependent on the cost of fossil fuels. Thus, it offers electricity users an important hedge against future fossil fuel price volatility.
Additionally, the power output from a solar electric generation system is well matched to periods of peak load demand, typically occurring during hot summer days. This characteristic is increasingly significant as time-of-day pricing or other variable real time pricing mechanisms are implemented during periods of high demand.
Photovoltaic Systems Applications
Today, solar-generated electricity serves people living in the most isolated spots on earth as well as in the center of our biggest cities. First used in the space program, PV systems are now generating electricity to pump water, light up the night, activate switches, charge batteries, supply the electric utility grid, and more.


Simple PV Systems

Simple solar electric systems can be used to power water pumps for irrigation and drinking wells, and ventilation fans for air cooling. For this reason, the most simple PV systems use the DC electricity as soon as it is generated. Basic PV systems have several advantages for the special jobs they do: the energy is produced where and when it is needed, small systems under 500 watts weigh less than 150 pounds which makes them easy to transport and install, and finally, although pumps and fans may require regular maintenance, the PV modules require only an occasional inspection and cleaning.
PV with Battery Storage
Storing electrical energy makes PV systems a reliable source of electric power day and night, rain or shine. PV systems with battery storage are being used all over the world to power lights, sensors, recording equipment, switches, appliances, telephones, televisions, and even power tools. PV systems with batteries can be designed to power DC or AC equipment.
PV with Generators
When power must always be available, or when larger amounts of electricity than a PV system alone can supply are occasionally needed, an electric generator can work effectively with a PV system to supply the load. During the day, the PV modules quietly supply daytime energy needs and charge batteries. If the batteries run low, the engine generator runs at full power (its most cost- and fuel-efficient mode of operation) until they are charged. In some systems, the generator makes up the difference when electrical demand exceeds the combined output of the PV modules and the batteries.
PV Connected to Utilities
Where utility power is available, a grid-connected PV system can supply some of the energy needed and use the utility in place of batteries. Home, government and business owners are installing PV systems connected to the utility grid. They do so because they know that the system reduces the amount of electricity they purchase from the utility each month. They also realize that PV consumes no fuel and generates no pollution.
The owner of a grid-connected PV system may even be able to sell electricity back to the grid each month. This is because electricity generated by the PV system can be used on site or fed through a meter into the utility grid. PowerLight’s solar electric systems are examples of grid-connected solar electricity.

Utility-Scale Power
Large-scale photovoltaic power plants, consisting of many PV arrays installed together, can prove useful to utilities. Utilities can build PV plants much more quickly than they can build conventional power plants because the arrays themselves are easy to install and connect together electrically. Utilities can locate PV plants where they are most needed in the grid because siting PV arrays is much easier than siting a conventional power plant. And, unlike conventional power plants, PV plants can be expanded incrementally as demand increases. Finally, PV power plants consume no fuel and produce no air or water pollution while they silently generate electricity.
Hybrid Power Systems
Hybrid systems combine numerous electricity production and storage pieces to meet the energy demands of a given facility or community. In addition to PV, engine generators, wind generators, small hydro plants, and any other source of electrical energy can be added as needed to meet energy demands and fit the local geographical and temporal characteristics. These systems are ideal for remote applications such as communications stations, military installations, and rural villages.


Applications and Products

Our associates are manufacturers of solar water pumps and a wholesale distributor of components for solar electric power (PV), solar heating and wind electric systems. We serve off-grid (remote power), grid-connected (utility tied) power, remote water supply, and more.

 

Please contact us: 1-866-733-8686

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