Why Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is the future; this is the general consensus among scientists, governments and many people in the private sector. It’s cheap, it’s clean and it’s all around us!
For businesses and homes alike renewable energy from solar companies and such like is quickly becoming an accessible option for decreasing energy bills as well as the carbon footprint incurred by day to day living and business dealings. This market may not have taken off properly in some parts of the world, like Nigeria, yet but it is about to, and there are already companies lined up to take their place at the forefront when it does.
A Worldwide View: Solar Energy in Nigeria
Solar energy in Nigeria could be big for both the individuals involved and the country as a whole. This is partly because of the many benefits that this kind of energy will bring to the country, but also because of the ways in which Nigeria is perfect for the production of renewable energy in so many ways. The first of these ways is the sheer amount of sunshine that Nigeria gets per year; discounting the rainy seasons, one running late February/early March to July and the other from September to October, the weather is generally sunny across the country. The longest day of the year is just over 12 hours long and the shortest is just under 12 hours long. This means an average of 1885 hours of sunlight to take advantage of per year! The result is that solar energy in Nigeria would have very, and lucrative, consistent output. In fact, if a mere 100 square mile section of land was given over to solar panels the whole of Nigeria could be powered renewably with stunning ease. In fact, Nigeria has a unique chance to be a world leader in the field of solar energy.
Solar Energy Pros and Cons
Every option has its upsides and downsides, but, on the face of it, it seems that solar energy has more pros than cons. For a start, and perhaps most importantly, it is a clean source of energy which is key especially in some parts of the world due to the level of air pollution caused by old fashioned generators and the like. Solar panels produce no fumes, smoke or nastiness and a solar panel would be carbon neutral! Solar power is also one of the most accessible sources of energy in the world; it can be found to some degree anywhere the sun shines. It is also sustainable; solar energy isn’t likely to hit a period of shortage any time soon! When it comes to the equipment there are also a few benefits to going solar. Firstly, solar panels are silent so they’re unlikely to disturb you if you’re looking for peace and quiet! They are also low maintenance and cost effective in the long run; they have no moving bits and bobs to get stuck or broken and the cost of solar energy is fixed, unlike the cost of diesel or petrol. Finally, solar panels are reliable and can last up to 40 years!
What is a Solar Inverter?
While solar panels are the face, so to speak, of solar energy it is the solar inverter which does all the real work in the system. You see this little bit of kit is what makes the power gained from your panels usable in home and business environments. When you decide to use solar energy in your home or workplace you’ll have an inverter of some kind tucked away discreetly but there are two which you can make use of, generally speaking. There is the central inverter which will make use of renewable energy gathered from a box in one location, such as your garage. Secondly there are newer microinverters which sit discreetly under each solar panel and convert the power gained there and then. These smaller, more advanced panels are slightly more costly and take longer to install, but are perhaps aesthetically preferable. Your system won’t consist of only the panels and the solar power inverter, but will also have several smaller components known as the “balance system” which consists of wiring, small parts for attaching the panels to whatever surface they are likely to sit on and other such small, but essential parts that enable the system to work as efficiently as possible without interruption.
How a Solar Inverter Works
Those who don’t know much about electricity or how it is harnessed can be forgiven for not knowing how a solar inverter works, but we can enlighten you! It all boils down to the difference of DC to AC power. Direct current (DC) electricity flows in only one direction and is incompatible, for this reason, with many appliances in a home. Alternating current electricity is the kind you get from your mains supply; it’s capable of travelling long distances and is incredibly powerful. What solar panel inverters do, at the most basic level, is change the energy that your panels collect into a form that is compatible with the kind that your home, or business, needs. The inverter is really the driving force of solar forms of renewable energy and this is why efficiency is key! You’ll be pleased to hear, then, that inverters by and large conserve 95% of the energy gathered which means that only 5% is lost, on average, during the conversion process. Not too shabby, really, considering how cost efficient solar power already is. In a country where the sun generally shines for long periods at a time, it will be easy to power your home.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what renewable energy is and why it is important to have this in your home or at your business, as well as understanding the worth of renewable energy all over the world. The time is certainly now when it comes to making changes like this so that we can have a sustainable future.
