Page 141 | Solar.com

Please enter a valid zip code.

(888)-438-6910

Please enter a valid zip code.

Please enter a valid zip code.

May 17 2018
Love0

Should I Get a Solar Thermal System Instead of a PV System?

By Solar Panel Installation Process No Comments


When you hear about installing solar, you’re most likely hearing about PV (photovoltaic) solar cell panels. They’ve become standard in the industry.

PV solar cell panels were developed in the 1950s at Bell Labs to power electronic equipment. They picked up development speed through funding during the space program.

An older form of solar technology called solar thermal has been around since 1896. These two technologies are fascinating and have each moved solar technology forward in their own right. But when it comes to installing solar on your home, does solar thermal make sense?

Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the solar thermal versus PV and which makes more sense for homeowners.

Solar Thermal Generates Heat to Warm Water

The primary use of a solar thermal system is to provide hot water through the use of solar technology.

Similar to a PV solar system, solar thermal systems requires collectors or panels on the rooftop. They absorb solar energy just as PV systems but differ in what happens from there.

Solar Thermal System

Solar thermal systems have a pump circulating solar fluid (water, saline or other fluids) through the collectors and deliver heat to a water storage tank.

When homeowners need hot water, the solar-heated water takes precedence and either eliminates or reduces the energy needed by the boiler to heat water. This is how solar thermal reduces energy bills, as generating heat for water consumes a lot of energy.

Differences Between Solar thermal and PV Solar Panels

  • Solar thermal uses the sun’s energy to generate thermal energy which is used to heat water or other fluids
  • Photovoltaic (PV) systems, generate electricity rather than heat

Solar thermal is currently used more often on large-scale applications where lots of hot water is needed, like a laundromat or a college dorm. It also requires the use of large amounts of water, more equipment including moving parts like pumps and solenoid valves, has a more complex installation process and is more expensive than PV.

Why Homeowners Are More Likely Better Off With PV

Instead of two separate solar arrays competing for the same optimal south-facing roof space, installing solar PV panels and pairing them with an electric water heater is more cost-effective. This will also be more efficient both spatially on the roof and in terms of overall energy usage.

With all the extra moving parts of solar thermal systems, there’s a lot more that can go wrong when installing or maintaining the system over time. The cost of PV solar panels has reduced to far less than solar thermal and there’s practically no maintenance for PV.

While there are integrated solar thermal and PV systems being developed, they’re still essentially more complex than necessary. PV prices are more reasonable now, making it less expensive and less cumbersome to heat water with electricity.

In the early days of solar, one advantage solar thermal had over PV was that it allowed energy storage for intermittent power. With net metering available to most solar customers and battery storage becoming more available, it’s easier to store electricity collected through PV panels and use it later.

For the average homeowner looking to minimize energy costs without adding any extra projects to their plate, PV comes through as the more straightforward and less expensive option.

If you’re looking into solar, here’s a great post on how to conduct due diligence on your solar project. Going into any project with a good understanding of the process will ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible and that you get exactly what you need.

Still, have questions about solar PV versus solar thermal? Contact our energy advisors team or call 888-454-9979.

May 16 2018
Love0
how solar tariffs will affect prices

Solar Tariffs Update 2018: Protecting American Solar Jobs Act

By Solar Incentives by State No Comments

 

You probably heard about the solar tariffs when they made headlines earlier this year. There’s a new update worth mentioning. The Protecting American Solar Jobs Act was submitted on April 18, 2018, by Congresswoman Jacky Rosen of Nevada.

Rosen and many others see the solar tariffs as damaging for the solar industry as a whole.

The bipartisan bill proposes reversing the 30 percent solar tariffs, which were approved by President Trump in January. It will also reimburse any companies who imported affected solar products under the tariffs for any financial damages incurred.

In accordance with the bill’s name, Rosen cited job creation among the main reasons for returning solar import prices back to their previous rates.

She highlighted the importance of the solar industry and its ability to create “new jobs, cheaper power bills, and the growth of a new industry that is diversifying our state’s economy.”

Rosen’s efforts were supported from both sides of the political aisle, with several Democratic and Republican representatives from California and South Carolina joining her as cosponsors. A sign of the economic viability of solar taking precedence over political leaning, the bill might be promising for further progress through collaboration.

Solar makes more sense than ever in terms of helping people provide for their families, both by developing more opportunities for employment and by offering an alternative to ever-rising utility rates.

Solar Jobs and Pricing for Homeowners

A Solar Foundation census released last year reported that 250,271 people were employed in solar jobs during 2017. With only 1.3 percent of the energy portfolio currently utilizing solar technology, potential room for growth in these new tech jobs is exponential.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) projected the solar tariffs will reduce the number of solar industry jobs by a net of 23,000 in 2018.

Tariffs on solar module imports are affecting prices, though it looks to be more in commercial solar than residential. The stronger the solar industry is, the more deploy-able the technology, and the more reasonable the pricing becomes on a whole.

Will the Bill Make it Through?

In order to take effect, the Protecting American Solar Jobs Act will have to be approved by the House, the Senate and then it will return to president Trump’s desk again for his approval.

While it seems doubtful that President Trump will reverse his opinion on the matter, there’s always the possibility that a well-presented argument could land just right on the presidential desk.

The positive effects of the solar industry on local economies across the U.S. are far-reaching. If the argument can be made clear and any new numbers could be presented in a way to exemplify the value of eliminating the tariffs for solar employment, there’s a chance it could make it through. Either way, it’s a statement worth making.

For a bullet-point rundown on the history of solar tariffs, check out this solar tariffs fact sheet. Or read this article on the solar tariffs news about the solar tariffs and residential solar pricing.