Price of photovoltaic panels, the trend in 2014

The prices of photovoltaic solar panels in the last five years have fallen heavily. It 'a trend not only for the United States, but which involved all the world. The strong decrease was related to the success of government incentives (especially in Europe) distributed in time, the demands of solar modules have increased and the price has dropped, partly because in the 'arena have entered the Chinese manufacturers that have flooded the market with low cost products (Trina, Yingli, Suntech).

What is expected for 2014? What will be the price of solar panels? We will see a further decline? For many people we are now close to the so-called "grid parity", it means the same price between obtained a kilowatt of electricity through photovoltaic and the cost of a kilowatt of electricity sold by the company. We should probably get to pay less than $ 1 for each watt of PV CSI module.

As you can see from the picture the average price in 2012 of a module amounted to $ 2.29 per watt. We can of course pay 1.5 dollars for Chinese panels or 2.5-3 dollars for high yield-such as Panasonic or Sanyo Sunpower of California. Solar Buzz notes that the European markets have absorbed about 80% of global demand for PV over the past five years. However, in recent months, there have been severe cuts to incentives in Europe, this has reduced the race to purchase PV implants and as a result the prices have decreased less than what was expected.

The cuts to the incentives are the result of government programs that have been successful in the past in creating a strong demand, but, importantly, have helped to bring down the unit cost of the panels.Another factor contributing to the reduction of the retail price of modules has been caused by a change in those who produced them.

Over the past five years, the European, Japanese, and U.S. manufacturers have lost market share compared to the Chinese and Taiwanese.

What to expect in the near future: the fall in prices will continue steadily, but not as strong as before. Only a strong incentive program could dramatically bring down the prices of the modules, or a technological innovation that is currently not yet been developed in a commercial manner.

Click here to read the complete solar price module analysis done by Solar Buzz.

Why Should You Consider Using Solar Power in Your Home

More people these days are realizing the far-reaching benefits of solar power. Although life on this planet has thrived because of the sun's life-giving energy, it is only now that the world has turned to solar energy, which they predict will be the major source of electricity in the future. There are now homeowners who recognize the advantage of installing residential solar power systems on their properties. If you are searching for an alternative energy source for your home, here are some of the benefits that you can reap from using solar power.

Residential solar power systems use a renewable energy source. As long as the sun shines, there is no way that this power source could be depleted. Even if the sun disappears at night or hides behind clouds in some days, it is generally available in full force. Also, technological advances have now made it possible for homeowners to harness the sun's energy and store it for later use.

Unlike setting up a power-generation site for other energy systems, setting up a solar power system designed for home use does not require intricate machinery or clearing up large swathes of land. In fact, once the photovoltaic cells are set up, there is very little maintenance required to keep the residential solar power system running.

The main advantage that convinces homeowners to switch to solar power is the fact that they save a great deal on their utility bills. Their savings on utility costs becomes greater if they use electricity derived from the sun to power up all their electrical appliances in the home.

Many countries are now offering incentives (in Italy for example energy produced by home solar power is payed for 20 years 50% higher then standard prices) for homeowners to switch to solar power. Some of the incentives include: tax deductions for using an alternative and renewable energy source, and financial compensation if the homeowner sells surplus energy to a utility company.

Things To Consider When Designing Your Own Residential Solar Power System

With the rising cost of gas prices these days and the realization just how finite the world's fossil fuel resources are, many people are now searching for alternative sources of energy from which to derive electricity. Residential solar power systems are currently being viewed as viable alternatives to traditional power sources.

With the recent developments in residential solar power technology, harnessing the power of the sun for electricity is no longer an expensive endeavor. Thus, solar power can be utilized in homes located in the suburbs and the cities when, before, only those residences that are not encompassed by the power grid are forced to make use of alternative energy sources. Prior to the installation of a residential solar power system, there are several things that you must consider.

The primary consideration is the system's size. If you own household appliances that run on electricity, you must determine the amount of energy each appliance requires in order to function. Alternatively, you can calculate your home's annual average electricity usage by gathering your utility bills from the past 12 months. Get the average of your household's electricity consumption by adding the actual kilowatt-hours used and then dividing the sum by 12. This is now your household's average monthly kilowatt-hour consumption.

Then, divide this amount by 30 to obtain the average kilowatt-hour used in a day. Divide this result by 5 (which is the average number of hours the sun shines fully in the United States). Lastly, multiply the result of the last calculation by 1.43 (this will account for the system losses). The final result will be the kilowatt-hour size of the solar-generated system that you will need for your home. Once you obtain the size of the residential solar power system required for your needs, a reputable solar power installer can help you set up the system that will harness the sun's power to provide electricity to your home.

How To Choose The Best Residential Solar Power System

More and more people are becoming aware of the rapid depletion of our fossil fuel sources. Furthermore, the continuing escalation of gas prices has spurred many people to search for alternative means of energy to power their homes. Residential solar power systems have become the most popular alternative power source throughout the world.

Not only does residential solar power has the potential of halting the further depletion of fossil fuel sources, it seems to be the most viable solution to wean homeowners' dependence on deregulated gas prices that continue to plague the entire world. Furthermore, the recent developments in relation to solar energy have made the installation of photovoltaic systems an affordable venture. Thus, it is no longer just homes off the power grid that are utilizing solar-powered systems for their electricity; residents in the suburbs and the cities are now also harnessing the sun's energy to power up their homes.

With the potential of residential solar power to save the environment and lower monthly utility costs, how can a homeowner choose the best system to meet their needs? The following factors should be considered:
Does the location permit for maximum exposure to sunlight? Keep in mind that solar power systems harness the energy of the sun. Thus, in order to reap the maximum benefits that can be derived from this alternative power source, photovoltaic cells should receive maximum exposure to the sun's rays. True, there are photovoltaic cells that can capture the sun's energy even during cloudy conditions.

However, the system cannot actually function to its full maximum.

Will the solar power system be used to power all appliances and electrical fixtures in the house? Considering the amount of energy needed can greatly influence the size of the residential solar power system to be installed. The homeowner has to decide if solar energy is going to be the main source of electrical power for the entire household or if there are only specific fixtures and appliances that are to be powered up with electricity generated from the sun.

Things You Need To Know About Residential Solar Power Regulations

Interest in residential solar power systems has risen in the past few months, owing to the increased awareness of homeowners about the depletion of fossil fuel sources and the global chaos sparked by increasing oil and gas prices.

Many people now realize that they have to seek alternative energy sources in order to wean from their dependence on oil, gas, and other traditional sources of energy. Thus, they turn to solar power. Even governments have acknowledged that now is the time to turn to other means of energy.

What is residential solar power regulation? How will it benefit homeowners who have turned to solar power as a means of supplying electricity to their homes?

In the United States, there are regulations that protect the right of homeowners to acquire sunlight to operate their residential solar power systems. Furthermore, the regulations are in place in order to ensure the safe installation of systems that harness the power of the sun. Some of the major issues surrounding solar-power regulation are the identification of the entities officially qualified to install solar power systems in homes and buildings; recognizing who approves the installation of solar power systems in specific areas; pinpointing the appropriate procedures of storing solar energy in a power grid; and the appropriate connection of a solar power system from a residence to a utility company's power grid.

In about 2 dozen American states, net metering is practiced. Solar power generated by a household is transmitted to a utility company's power grid for a specified compensation. Regulations surrounding this metering arrangement ensure fair treatment for all entities hooked up to the grid tied system.

The competence of solar contractors is another issue under the scope of solar power regulations. Currently there are 10 American States that require contractors involved in the installation, maintenance, and repair of photovoltaic systems to possess professional licenses. This ensures that clients will receive competent service from this category of tradespersons.

Residential Solar Power: How Can Your Home Benefit From A Grid Tie System?

Solar energy is being looked upon as the most viable alternative source of electricity used to power homes. Recent developments in this technology have made it possible to install affordable residential solar power systems not only in homes that are off the power grid but also in residences located in cities and the suburbs.

Furthermore, through residential solar power systems, utility companies have come up with ways that help homeowners to lower their household utility costs. 

The grid tie system is one such way. Essentially, a solar-energy-powered home generates direct current (DC) electricity. This DC power is run through an inverter to transform it into alternating current (AC) energy. The AC power is then transmitted to the utility company's power grid. This is what they call as the grid tie system.

So, how can you benefit from a grid tie system? Considering that you will be supplying electrical power to the utility company's power grid, you are compensated. The compensation is usually in the form of "net metering." For example, every month your household feeds an equivalent of 300 kilowatt-hours of electrical power to the utility company's grid. From the same power grid, your household consumes 100 kilowatt-hours. The utility company will compensate you for the 200-kilowatt-hour difference. It would be as if your electric meter is running backwards!

In the United States, arrangements for the grid tie system are covered by special provisions in the National Electric Code. Throughout the rest of the world, there are 16 other countries that legally allow this type of electrical system, including Hungary, Japan, and Australia.

If you are interested in tapping your residential solar power into a grid tie system, there are certain components that you will need. The essential components include your residential solar panels, a combiner box, an inverter, a DC breaker box, and a grid disconnect. Setting up a grid tied system requires the services of a professional solar power system installer.