Many people enjoy the sun for its ability to lighten up the day—literally and figuratively. However, light is not the only thing our smiling ball of fire gives. Now, it’s very likely that you were taught that the sun is a renewable source of energy and you’ve believed so ever since. You’ve probably also seen and heard of solar panels on homes and their consistent inverters, but you are here because you need more clarity on what exactly those black panes attached to roofs are, and how on earth the sun can power your ceiling fan.
WHAT IS SOLAR ENERGY?
Solar energy is a form of renewable energy, in which sunlight is converted into forms of energy we can use like heat and electricity.
Solar energy is renewable because unlike fossil fuels, it does not take thousands of years for the usable end-products (oil and coal) to form. When we deplete solar energy stored in batteries, we just need to wait until the next day to get more! This makes it an economic and reasonable source of energy—I mean, you don’t need to pay for the sunlight that shines on you. It is also carbon-free and does not give off toxic gas emissions like the fossil fuel.
HOW IS SOLAR ENERGY CONVERTED TO ELECTRICITY?
So, how then does the sun even power our homes? If you live in a very hot climate, you probably only know the sun as that annoying ball of fire that gives you sunburn and dries your clothes—that’s the wind by the way—, and you’re probably wondering how it can charge your phone and power your standing fan. This should be easy if you offered Physics in school, but if not you should still understand the concept.
Solar radiation is converted directly into electricity by a special type of cells called photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaic cells are specially made cells (semiconductors) that absorb sunlight and convert the light energy into electrical energy. They are very small; often less than the thickness of four human hairs.
When sunlight hits the junctions of these cells, it displaces the naturally excitable electrons in them. These free electrons then move around in search of an atom to bind to, and so create a flow of electric current.
Confusing? Think of conduction. Imagine you turn your gas off because your delicious pot of jollof is done. Now, you need to shut your doors because you don’t want the smell of your ice fish bringing any hungry mouth into your home without permission. You drop your metal spoon on your pot’s handle and rush to close the windows and doors. When you return to eat, you notice that your spoon—previously cool to the touch—is now hot. You double check your gas and sure enough, you turned it off before leaving the kitchen. So, how did your spoon get hot?
That, dear reader, is conduction. Your spoon—every material, really—is made up of tiny particles called electrons. These particles are fixed in their spot to give your spoon its shape, but when they get heated, they get excited and vibrate around their fixed points. This vibration is like catarrh in a small house. When one electron catches it, it spreads the excitement to the other, and before you know it, everyone is vibrating. This vibration is accompanied by the heat. So, though it was only your pot that was hot, because you dropped your spoon on the handle for a while, heat moved through your pot and into your spoon.
This is exactly what happens when sunlight hits a photovoltaic cell; it results in a flow of electricity.
HOW DO SOLAR PANELS WORK?
Now you know how solar energy is converted into electricity. Chances are, you’ve seen the solar panels around you on the roofs of homes or offices. There are pictures of the characteristic dark panels in this very article as well. Solar panels are those dark rectangular surfaces that come to your mind whenever you hear solar energy.
Solar panels are made of a layer of those photovoltaic cells we talked about, a glass casing unit (the very top surface you see), a metal frame, and wires that conduct the currents formed in them.
When these structures are kept under the sun, the photovoltaic cells absorb the light which displaces the electrons in them and cause a flow of free moving electrons. These electrons are taken up by the wiring as direct current electricity, and finally, are converted to alternating current electricity which is what makes your fan blades whir and your phone light up with life.
Depending on the size of your home and your energy consumption, you could get solar panel systems of 3.5KVA – 5KVA (Kilo-volt-amperes), estimating 9 – 15 pieces with a total wattage of 450 each.
WHY SOLAR ENERGY?
Why do you need solar energy or our solar panels when you have three working generators and the electricity company favours your street? Well, here’s a list of reasons.
- IT IS RENEWABLE ENERGY: It goes without saying that this is one of the perks of solar energy. Fossil, by its very definition is the mineralized remains of an animal or plant. It is something extremely old. You cannot make fossil yourself and live to reap it—you’d be fossil by then. With the sun, it is different. The sun shines every day. It is so consistent that there would be pandemonium if it doesn’t shine tomorrow. With solar energy, the sun is always ready to give and replenish.
- IT GIVES YOU PEACE OF MIND: Your heart will be at rest even during thunderstorms because you are not connected to the electricity grid—you know how electricity and rain works in Nigeria. You do not need to wait for days for the grid to be fixed, you do not need to deal with nonchalant costumer service when you run into issues buying units and you do not need to worry about thieves coming for your generator at night. If you work remotely, you might be familiar with the embarrassment that comes with a sudden blackout during virtual meetings. With solar energy you have less to worry about, and with the 24-hour inverter system, you can rest assured that your meetings and presentations go hitch-free.
- ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY: Pollution is not limited to throwing plastics in gutters and playing ball with tightly wrapped nylons. That soot you see every morning around your generator is pollution. Fuel emits harmful gasses like carbon into the atmosphere. This might not be a topic you care about, but it affects everyone in one way or the other. Heat waves in Adamawa state, flooding in Lagos state are caused by Global warming, which is caused by these harmful emissions. Switching to solar energy is a step in the right direction.
- SAVE MONEY: With solar energy, all you need is for your panels and inverters to be set up and the sun does the rest of the work for you. Because of this, all you need to do is make a payment for the installation and workmanship then rest in your cozy home while your neighbours take their generators for repairs and maintenance. With solar energy, you have no need for frequent light bills, especially in this economy where the price of everything gets ridiculously inflated. Thus, you save money in the long run.
- BOOSTS PROPERTY PRICE: For my friends in the real estate industry, or anyone looking to sell landed property, solar energy is a good investment. Because of the benefits of solar energy—the ultimate savings, the peace of mind, the fear of electricity bills shooting through the roof—properties utilizing solar energy are sold for a higher price. Who doesn’t like a good deal? So, thinking of selling that property? Check the roof. Do you see a solar panel? If not, get some. You’ll thank me later.
- IT UTILISES SPACE: Before the advent of solar panels, the roof was used only as a protection from the elements. Now the roof can be used as a space to harness the sun’s energy. Some innovative individuals now use their car parks to get more panels for their workplace. Wherever there’s a roof, there’s electricity.
- LOW MAINTENANCE AND LESS HAZARDOUS: Finally, solar panels are low maintenance and they are not prone to wear and tear like generators or other alternative power sources. You would not find engine oil spills on your panels or inverters, and they are less likely to catch fire than generators with spills and heat.
WHY US?
If you are interested in installing a solar system in your home or office, you should know you are in the right place. Now that you understand how everything works, let us help you understand what it feels like to live without worry of the unstable Nigerian power grid.
There are numerous companies offering solar panel installations, so why should you come to us? Here’s why. We know how expensive everything is, and we understand that you might be willing to get solar panels because you now see its long-term savings benefits, but you are hesistating because the money is just too much!
We understand the usual worries. Are we credible? Yes, we are. Don’t take our word for it though, go through our website to see the bodies that trust us with their business. Are we solely after your money? No, we are not. We are after a better future where everyone has access to electric energy without the qualms that come with grids and generators.
Remember we said all you have to pay for is the equipment and the workmanship? Even those are expensive and will dent your pockets if you make a payment at once. That is, unless you are Otedola and his ilk. Because of this, we have established a program where we supplement you with a loan, and have you pay it off in installments. This way, you would not feel the weight of your purchase. All you need to do is make small payments over a period, while already enjoying the benefits of going solar. You know, that money you would’ve spent on units and fixing those generators could be shunted towards your loan repayment. You also have a say on the length of time you would like to make payments for.
Click on this link to the Solar Loan Program page and use the calculator tool to find out how much it costs to get the right number of panels for your home or office, and the amount you’d need to pay in installments. You can also leave a question in the comment section under this post, and we will attend to you.
Catch you next time! I’m about to Netflix and chill with my trusty solar energy.
By Sophia Gabriel
