Month: February 2021

Categories
Solar Energy News

Benefits of buying a house with solar panels in Nigeria

Solar power has always been a good investment to make. Are you considering purchasing a new home and you are in between deciding on purchasing one with solar panels and one without solar panels?

 

A personal opinion would be to purchase that with solar panels. However, I wouldn’t want you to take my words for it. I would want you to explore further and acknowledge the benefit of having a home with solar panels.

Solar panels could save you the hefty bills you pay for electricity and apart from that, you get more and more out of the investment.

Over the last few years, solar panels have been installed in more houses than before. In U.S alone more than 12.3 million Americans installed solar panels in their home in 2018. That shows how beneficial solar-powered houses are. 

You may also read: Benefits of solar energy

Here are some reasons you should purchase a house with solar panels.

5 Solid Reasons You Should Purchase a House With Solar Panels

1. Generate your sustainable energy

Purchasing a house with already installed solar panels gives you the ability to generate sustainable energy. You become independent of a utility company and reduce your reliance on fossil fuels which is great for you.

In Nigeria, there is heavy dependence on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are used in powerhouses and they increase the carbon emission in the environment. If you purchase a house with solar panels, you are sure to be generating your sustainable energy which leaves no noise pollution or carbon emission on the environment.

2. Constant electricity

On a sunny day, you are sure to get the most out of the sun’s free energy which can also be stored for use on a cloudy day if you have solar panels already installed in your home. 

With good batteries added to the installation, you are sure to enjoy constant electricity which NEPA (or any other utility company) cannot give you. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and doing all you want to do with electricity all because you have a home that is powered by the sun.

That’s one advantage of buying a house with solar panels.

3. Save money

An average home in Nigeria spends nothing less than #10,000 on electricity bills per month and this doesn’t include the money spent on generator bills too.

Let’s do little calculations for the money spent on running a generator.

Taking that the price of petro is #150/liter and diesel is #190/liter. You use a generator which operates using petrol and you buy a minimum of 3 liters a day.

That alone sums up to #450/day, #3,150/week, #13,500/month and #164,250/year.

Looking at that of diesel using a minimum of 3liters daily gives #570/day, #3,990/week, #17,100/month, and #208,050 / year.

This a just a rough estimate of how much you spend in running a generator every day.

Investing in purchasing a house with solar panels is worth the money.

4. Little maintenance

Unlike the generator used in powering most homes in Nigeria, solar panels are easier to maintain. A typical generator will require monthly or bimonthly maintenance which could be expensive most times.

For solar panels, maintenance occurs 2-4 times a year and it is relatively cheap depending on the company.

5. Improved home value

If you are looking for a good investment to make, then you should purchase a house with solar panels. Homes with solar panels are valuable in the market right now. They are considered an asset that can be sold for a much higher price than was purchased at a much faster rate.

Final thoughts

Before purchasing a house with solar panels, you should find out about the size of the panels and how much electricity it generates. Smaller solar panels produce a small electric current which may not be enough to successfully power your home appliances.

 

Categories
Solar Energy News

7 solar tips that can save you money when you know them

Solar power is the conversion of energy derived from the sun(solar energy) into electricity. This electricity derived from the sun can be used in powering your appliances at the home, office, farm, or any other place the installation was made.

 

One thing you should keep in mind is that the sun offers this free energy to you daily.

So, as long as there is sunlight, there will be solar energy.

An amazing fact about solar energy is that energy released to the earth by the sun in one hour can be utilized by everyone in the world in one year.

This means that there is an abundance of solar energy released hourly. This energy is of huge impact on the earth as it can transform the earth greatly.

Benefits of going solar

Here are some crucial benefits of going solar

  1. Installing solar in your home aids in improving your home value.
  2. It makes you independent of the utility company as you get to produce your own electricity using the right components.
  3. Going solar helps save the planet as you get to contribute to the reduction of carbon emission.
  4. It helps improve your health 
  5. Reduction in noise pollution and other kinds of pollution is another benefit of going solar.

While installing a solar energy system at home, your farm, office, or any other place you desire is a nice investment and an economical change to make, it is also necessary that you know solar tips that can help you get the most out of your investment and save you money.

Rather than spending money always, these tips will help you have more money and get the best out of your investment.

Solar tips you should know

1. Know how it works

The first thing you should know is the step-by-step basic process of how solar energy works. This is crucial because when you get to know more about a particular thing, you get to appreciate it more.

And hey,  you do not need to know much about the technical jargon or the whole electrical phrases and application.

All you need to know is the basic process of how your solar energy system works.

2. Heavy appliances during the day

 

During a sunny day, there is a release of so much free energy from the sun. One way to utilize this free energy is to use your heavy appliances during the day as the energy is being released.

This enables you to get the most out of your solar energy system. So, heavy appliances such as a heater, dishwasher, washing machine, and others should be used during the day.

3. Add a battery

The major duty of the solar battery is to store energy for use. Solar energy isn’t produced at night but adding a battery to your installation would make electricity available to you always even at night hereby preventing blackout.

4. Switch to energy-efficient appliances

One way to make your power last longer and save you money is to switch from using energy consulting devices to using energy-efficient appliances.

For example, instead of using the yellow bulb which could consume 40, 60, 80, or 100 watts, consider switching to an LED bulb which is more energy-efficient and can save you money in the long run.

5. Clean your panels

 

Dirty panels can cause a decline in the performance of your panels and the system as a whole. Solar blockers such as dust, leaves, water, sand, ice, bird dropping, and others can limit the functioning of your solar panels.

To maintain your solar panels, you should clean your panels regularly at least 2-4 times a year.

6. Avoid shade

Solar panels do not function effectively under a shade. To get the most out of your panels, you should keep them away from shade and install them in a place where direct sunlight can do justice to them.

7. Maintain your batteries

 

You should get to find out the type of solar battery that was installed for you and know the routine maintenance of such a battery.

Your batteries just like any other appliance purchased are prone to damage if you do not handle it the right way.

Therefore, you must learn how to maintain your batteries or you can contact your installer to conduct routine maintenance for you.

Categories
Solar Energy News Solar Power

How to maintain and care for your solar battery

Solar Batteries

Solar batteries are one of the major components of your solar power system. The battery functions as the storage tank for the electrical current trapped by the solar panels.

One advantage is having a battery is that it holds the electrical current and makes it ready for use whenever you need it. That is, with your battery, you can have electricity power your appliances any time, any day, any weather as long as it is charged.

As a major component of your solar power system installations, you must take adequate care of your batteries. Batteries like any other appliance are prone to damage if not handled the right and suitable way.

Types of solar batteries

There are different types of solar batteries and they all have their distinct features. They include: 

1. Lead-acid batteries

These are one of the longest-used batteries in the solar world. The two main types of lead-acid batteries are

  • Sealed lead-acid batteries and
  • Flooded lead-acid batteries

Lead-acid batteries are cost-effective, reliable, and can be disposed of easily. They require to be kept in a well-ventilated room and they have a short life span.

2. Lithium-ion batteries

This is one of the most widely used solar batteries in the world today. They require little to no regular maintenance, can hold more energy, and have a long life span. They are equally expensive and highly inflatable.

3. Nickel-cadmium batteries

They are mostly used in the aircraft industry. They are durable, maintenance-free, and can be operated at extreme temperatures. They are highly toxic too.

4. Flow batteries

 

Care of Flooded lead-acid batteries

Your flooded lead-acid batteries require regular maintenance(once in 2-4weeks). To care for these batteries, you should check your electrolyte level and refill when low.

Ensure you equalize your battery charges every 30-90 days. Battery cable connections should be right and terminal connections neat. 

How to check the electrolyte fluid level

The flooded lead-acid batteries are liable to this kind of maintenance routine. To check the fluid level, you need to open the battery cap and have a look inside to gauge the fluid level.

If low, distilled water should be added to top the electrolyte level. For most batteries, there is a fill line indicating the expected electrolyte level. All you have to do is fill it up to that level with distilled water.

How to clean your battery

When using the flooded lead-acid batteries, spillage of acid may occur. When this occurs, it needs to be cleaned. 

To clean your batteries, get a mixture of baking soda and distilled water. Using a clean brush, apply the mixture and brush the spillage to neutralize it.

 

Care of sealed lead-acid batteries

Sealed lead-acid batteries require less maintenance. Ensure battery terminals are tight. Clean any dust collected by the batteries.

Care of lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries require the least maintenance. After installation, you need to occasionally check the state of charge to ensure they are holding a charge properly. 

This shouldn’t be a problem as your installer can walk you through the process. Ensure to check the cables and terminals for proper tightening.

How to safely replace your solar batteries

 

When batteries aren’t properly maintained, their life span may get short. In such cases, it is necessary to replace batteries with new ones.

Avoid mixing old and new batteries. For safe replacement, ensure you contact your solar energy company.

 

Tips for extending battery life

  • Use only distilled water as an electrolyte.
  • Ensure you charge your batteries properly.
  • More batteries equal more connections  So, endeavor you limit the number of batteries used.
  • Never leave your battery uncharged.
  • Equalize your battery often
  • Clean when spillage or dust collection occurs

 

AWPS renewable is one of the leading solar companies in Nigeria. We are dedicated and passionate about what we do. Our team of experienced professionals is ready to guide you as you go solar.

For more information contact us here.

You may also like how solar energy works

How to maintain your solar panels

Categories
Solar Energy News

How To Maintain Your Solar Panels

A lot of questions have popped up in time past about the cleaning of solar panels. While that is something to address, others are quite skeptical about the frequency of cleaning solar panels.

A perfect scenario is this, do you purchase an appliance without properly and frequently caring for it or maintaining it? 

The answer is probably a “NO”.

You see, solar panels just like any other appliance purchased by you need to be cared for and maintained. Maintenance makes it last longer and makes it more efficient.

Why should I clean my solar panels?

Your solar panels need to be cleaned regularly at least 2 – 4 times a year. Dirty solar panels cause about a 20% decline in the performance of your panels.

Solar panels take energy from the sun and convert it into electricity. To get the optimal performance of your solar power system, your panel needs to be clean enough to trap energy from the sun.

Common Solar Blockers

While your solar panels may be kept on the rooftop or ground level, some elements can hinder the proper functioning of your solar panels.

These elements block sunlight from hitting your solar panels and the amount of solar energy trapped by the panels becomes insufficient to power your appliance. Solar blockers include dust, leaves, water, bird droppings, snow, and dirt in general.

How to Clean Your Solar Panels

There are two ways to clean your solar panels. A. Do it yourself. B.Contact your solar energy company

1. Do it yourself

To clean your solar panels yourself, you will need something to clean it and water. Here are the steps to take.

  • First, you need to get on the roof of your house.
  • Apply water to the dirty panels and use your mop to clean till it is neat.

While this may look easy, it is not always a safe step to take.

2. Contact your solar energy company

A safe measure to take in cleaning your solar panel is to contact your solar energy company.

One reason you should do this is that they are professional and they would know how to render professional and safe services.

If you contact your solar company and discover that they do not render panel cleaning services, request they recommend a professional to handle your cleaning job.

Solar Panel Maintenance Tips

1. Never use an abrasive sponge or soap on your solar panel.

Do not clean your solar panel with an abrasive sponge as this can lead to a scratch on the panel.

When cleaning your panel, use water and a non-abrasive sponge.

2. Do not use harsh materials such as sandpaper, hard brushes, etc to clean your panels. Harsh materials can leave a crack on your solar panel and it isn’t an ideal condition for your panel.

3. Be safe on the roof

If you attempt to do your solar panel cleaning yourself, always be careful to ensure you do not trip off, injure yourself or crack your roof.

4. Look out for dirt. Always look out for the common solar blockers as mentioned earlier.

5.Keep your solar panels out of the shade. This is to ensure you get sufficient energy from the sun.

6. Clean periodically.

You should clean your solar panels at least 2-4 times a year. This enables the smooth working of your solar power system.

7. If damaged, call your solar power company.