Solar batteries-power plants (kits). How much will it cost to install solar panels?

The idea of ​​using solar energy to heat a home or for other needs is not new; devices have been developed that allow anyone to do this. In many countries, rooftop solar panels are the rule rather than the exception. Our country is not yet one of them, but in our country similar installations can already be seen more and more often. Solar systems for home can be of two types. First - solar collectors, which heat the coolant flowing through them. The second is solar panels that generate electricity. We will talk about them below.

Solar panels convert sunlight into electrical energy. The battery consists of a number of photoelectric converters, which are more often called photocells. The number of converters in the battery is arbitrary, the connection is series-parallel. How is the number of photocells determined? Required current and voltage. The converters are placed on any flat surface one next to the other. Because of appearance such designs are often called " solar panels».

Solar panels for a private home are common in some countries

Solar panels that are too large in area are inconvenient to use in everyday life, and if the largest power is not enough, several devices are connected in a cascade. If more power is required, you may need significant area: the entire roof may be occupied, sometimes the walls of the house and part local area. That’s why solar panels are often used for private homes: there is room to place a large number of them. Apartment owners can only occupy windows and balconies.

Possibility of use

How can you use solar panels to heat your home? Just to reduce your electricity bills and also as a backup source in case of a shutdown. This will help achieve that same energy independence, and not freeze the heating system in the absence of a centralized power supply.

How realistically can a solar panel meet your electricity needs? If we talk about water heating, then this is realistic: to maintain the system’s functionality, a maximum of 200-300 W/h will be required. This is the average amount of time that boiler electronics “pull” + circulation pump+ possible control devices and controllers. If your system is larger, take the data sheets and calculate the required power. For 300 Wh, two medium-power solar panels will be sufficient (their total performance should slightly exceed the requirement).

And you don’t need to think that if there is no sun there will be no electricity. The system necessarily includes batteries and an inverter. Choose the right battery power, and even in the worst weather conditions, their charge will last you for several days of system operation.

By the way, many European manufacturers heating equipment provide for the joint operation of their equipment with solar converters (for example, gas boilers And ). But they work with solar collectors (heat water) or with solar panels, you need to look at each type of equipment.

If so, everything is more serious. The power of most of these heaters is calculated in kilowatts. To generate this amount of energy would require many panels to process the sun's energy. Installation of a solar panel system for heating a private house electric floors, can result in a very decent amount. But the good thing about the system is that its power can be increased gradually. If possible, you will increase the number of panels and the amount of electricity generated.

If you wish, you can save: . Such homemade options will cost several times cheaper than factory ones. And this despite the fact that you will have to buy ready-made photoconverters: their manufacture in artisanal conditions is an unrealistic task. Therefore - only ready-made ones. The efficiency of homemade solar panels will be lower than factory ones, but the price is several times lower.

Calculation of solar panels for a home

Insolation (the amount of solar energy) varies greatly from month to month. Therefore, you first need to decide what part of the electricity you are going to generate and for what period. If you want to produce 100% yourself at any time of the year, you will have to do the calculations yourself. bad month with a minimum number of sunny days. But then the question will arise: what to do with the excess amount of electricity that will be generated in other months. If you plan to stay only during the gardening season, calculate according to the lowest insolation during this period. In general, the principle is clear.

Then you need to calculate how much total power your solar system should produce for your home. To do this, enter all electrical appliances into the table, and from their passports, enter data on power, current consumption and watt load. By tapping the speakers, you will find out how much electricity per hour all your equipment and devices need. It is clear that all of them are unlikely to turn on at the same time. You can try to calculate which of them work at the same time, and select solar panels based on this figure.

Let's look at how to count the number of solar panels using an example. Let the need for electricity be 10 kW/h, insolation in the estimated month is 2 kW/h. The power of the battery that we were going to buy is 250 W (0.25 kW). Now we count 10 / 2 / 0.25 = 20 pcs. That is, you will need 20 solar panels.

To reduce electricity consumption, you need to replace all incandescent lamps with LED lamps, and all old wasteful equipment with energy-saving ones - then you will need less and less a large number of solar panels.

Types of solar panels

There are different photoelectric converters. Moreover, the material from which they are made and the technology differ. The performance of these converters directly depends on all these factors. Some solar cells have an efficiency of 5-7%, and the most successful recent developments show 44% and higher. It is clear that from development to household use The distance is enormous, both in time and money. But we can imagine what awaits us in the near future. For getting best characteristics they use other rare earth metals, but with improved characteristics we have a decent increase in price. The average productivity of relatively inexpensive solar converters is 20-25%.

The most common silicon solar cells. This semiconductor is inexpensive, its production has been mastered for a long time. But they don't have the best high efficiency- the same 20-25%. Therefore, with all the diversity, three types of solar converters are mainly used today:

• The cheapest are thin-film batteries. They are a thin coating of silicon on the supporting material. Silicon layer covered protective film. The advantage of these elements is that they work even in diffused light, and, therefore, it is possible to install them even on the walls of buildings. Cons - low efficiency 7-10%, and also, despite protective layer, gradual degradation of the silicon layer. Nevertheless, by occupying a large area, you can get electricity even in cloudy weather.
• Polycrystalline solar cells are made from molten silicon, slowly cooling it. These elements can be distinguished by their bright blue color. These solar panels have better productivity: efficiency is 17-20%, but in diffuse light they are ineffective.
• The most expensive of the trinity, but at the same time quite widespread, are monocrystalline solar panels. They are obtained by dividing a single silicon crystal into wafers and have a characteristic geometry with beveled corners. These elements have an efficiency of 20% to 25%.

Now, when you see the words “mono solar panel” or “polycrystalline solar cell”, you will understand that we are talking about a method of producing silicon crystals. You will also know what kind of effectiveness you can expect from them.

Battery with monocrystalline converters

Efficiency of solar panels in winter

You might be surprised, but on a winter day on vertical surface energy drops only 1.5-2 times less than in summer. This is the data for middle zone Russia. The picture is worse per day: during this period in the summer we receive 4 times more energy. But pay attention: on a vertical surface. That is, on the wall. If we talk about a horizontal surface, the difference is already 15 times.

The saddest picture of electricity generation from solar panels awaits you not in winter, but in autumn: in cloudy weather, their efficiency is 20-40 times lower, depending on the density of cloud cover. In winter, after snow has fallen, insolation (the amount of light falling on the batteries) on sunny days can approach summer values. This is why solar systems for your home produce more electricity in winter than in autumn.

It turns out that in winter we can achieve close to maximum efficiency, you need to place solar panels vertically or almost vertically. And, if you hang them on walls, then it is advisable to face them in the southeast: according to statistics, the weather is often clear in the morning. If there is no south-eastern wall, or it is impossible to install anything on it, you can get out of the situation by making special stands. Then they put solar panels on the roof. Since the angle of incidence sun rays varies depending on the season, it is advisable to make a stand with an adjustable angle. There is a possibility - turn the solar panels “facing” to the southeast, if there is no such option, let them “look” to the south.

Installation Rules

The efficiency of silicon solar cells depends on the amount of solar energy falling on them (the entire spectrum of radiation). Factors that we can somehow influence are:

The performance of many types of converters is affected by temperature indicators: the range of use of silicon elements is from -40 o C to +50 o C. Both lower and higher temperatures have a negative impact on performance. high temperatures. If you have active sun in the summer, it is important to prevent overheating. To do this, you can put under the panel white fabric or foil (more effective). If this does not help and the panel overheats, rotate it or rehang it. It will be necessary to choose a position in which the thermal regime will be maintained and the performance will remain quite high.

These devices show their maximum productivity if the sun's rays fall at an angle of 90 o. Unfortunately, this is not possible all day, but only for a short period of time. There are special tracking systems that change the angle of the panel so that the light falls constantly at the desired angle, but these are expensive installations.

And yet, you can find optimal angle installation of solar panels. It’s just that with a slight deviation from the ideal (less than 50 o), productivity drops slightly, by about 5%. You can see actual confirmation of this in the video.

Each region has its own angle for installing solar panels. It can be determined experimentally (as you saw), or it can be set based on geographical latitude- this slope is considered to be the best. Much depends on the orientation of the panel: if you face it north or east, the optimal angle will be smaller.

Solar panels on the roof

First of all, you need to find out whether the roof can withstand the additional load. Any module can handle one or two modules, but for more you will have to count.

For reliable fixation, they must be attached at least at four points. Moreover, if you are installing factory-made panels, do not be lazy to study the installation instructions: if at least one of the points is violated, the equipment will be removed from the warranty. In most cases the requirements are:

Solar panel mounting systems can be different. There are ready-made ones (sold in the same place where the panels themselves are sold), but you can also use those made by yourself. It is only important to use reliable, corrosion-resistant materials. The thickness of the slats and fasteners must be large: they must withstand wind loads, and a lot of panels with the thickest snow cover.

One of the methods for attaching solar panels to the roof of a private house can be seen in the video.

Now a little about electrical assembly. The solar battery connection diagram, in addition to the converters themselves, provides for the presence of:

• charge controller with connected batteries;
• converter (inverter), which converts D.C. to variable;
• fuses for short circuit protection (will increase the safety of both you and the system).

The controller and converter have current and voltage limitations. The total parameters of the solar system connected to your home should not exceed them. For electrical connection batteries in unified system, you only need to use those wires that are routed outside.

To connect the panels, a copper conductor in UV-resistant insulation is used. If wires in suitable insulation are not found, hide it in a corrugated hose for outdoor use. The thickness of the wire strands depends on the expected current strength in the system and the length of the line, but minimum section 4 mm 2. It is advisable to connect the conductors using connectors, and not with strands. MC4 is recommended because the conductors coming out of most solar panels are terminated with just such connectors. These connectors are good because they provide a tight connection, which is important on roofs. But not all companies install connectors of this standard. Cheap models (especially Chinese ones) may have something different, so check when purchasing.

Now about the sequence of connecting equipment to the system. For a secure connection, follow the following order:

1. Batteries are connected to the controller with correct polarity. The wires are copper, the cross-section is selected depending on the power of the controller.
2. Solar panels are connected to the controller. Polarity must also be observed.
3. 12 V consumers are connected to the controller via a fuse.
4. An inverter is connected to the batteries (via a fuse), and 220 V consumers are already connected to its output. Connecting the inverter directly to the controller is excluded: you will have to buy new devices. And this is approximately $600-1000 depending on the company and power.

Do not neglect the connection sequence - this is the most secure algorithm that guarantees (subject to polarity) the working state of the system.

Finally, another option for installation on the roof of a summer house with an adjustable angle of inclination. Perhaps you will find the video useful.

Modern technologies are actively being introduced into daily life. Now home solar panels are a popular development used by owners of country houses. Converting thermal energy into electrical energy allows summer residents to save money during the warm season, but does this pay for the initial cost of installation?

When purchasing solar panels for country house Please note that it is not the solar panels themselves that will cost more, but their installation. In order for the system to operate uninterruptedly in spring and summer, you need to purchase a charge controller, an inverter with a data recording and storage function (SD), batteries for energy storage, DC circuit breakers, a fuse and cables for connecting all elements of the system and connecting to electrical appliances.

The total weight of all components ranges from 50 to 700 kg, which causes difficulties during transportation: it is necessary to order a truck or negotiate separately with the company selling the solar power plant for delivery and installation. As a rule, in the second case, transportation is cheaper: the company gives a discount to customers.

Power and price

If you are purchasing a solar panel for your home, it is most effective to calculate the price based on your average daily energy consumption. As a rule, a family of 2-3 people wastes about 194 kW per month when using electrical appliances sparingly if they live in an apartment. This is about 6.5 kW per day, or 271 Wh/day.

At the dacha, energy consumption increases, since the covered area is larger. Nevertheless, in sunny weather, the installation can be used as an independent source of energy if the consumption is up to 5 kWh per day, but the cost of such powerful systems reaches 700 thousand rubles.

Types of solar panels

If you are going to buy solar panels for your home, the cost of the kit directly depends on what the system is designed for:

• small solar panels 50-300 Wh are designed to power small devices like a telephone or radio, as well as for lighting. This power is quite enough to provide a guest house with energy for the weekend. Installation cost is about 20,000-70,000 rubles;
• systems with a power of 500-1000 Wh are suitable for constant use, but at the same time it is necessary to reduce the operating time of devices with high energy consumption: TV, electric stove, etc. Such installations can act as permanent sources V small houses. Cost up to 200 thousand rubles;
• solar power plants with 2-3 kW of power are suitable for year-round residence family, but to ensure reliable energy supply in winter it is recommended to install auxiliary sources, for example, liquid fuel generators. Cost up to 600 thousand rubles.
• powerful solar generators costing up to 900 thousand rubles are intended exclusively as independent sources. They produce more than 5.4 kW and can also provide heating and water heating. In winter, it is recommended to use alternative types of energy: diesel generators or wind energy, since solar (thermal) energy is usually not enough.

If you do not live in country house constantly, it is recommended not to buy high-power solar power plants. The batteries will quickly accumulate energy in your absence, and the rest of the time the installation will be idle.

DIY battery installation

You can install solar panels for your home yourself, but this work is quite painstaking: you need to connect the batteries to the main power supply system using cables. The slightest error in the calculations and the house is de-energized before the electricians arrive. Professionals in this field recommend that amateurs not even try to do the installation themselves: the cost of repairs in case of failure will be many times higher than the price of the services of a competent engineer.

Many people are interested in using the free energy of the sun. Some of them install solar energy systems on the roofs of houses, others - on vacant plots of private land. But not everyone has this opportunity due to the lack of individual standing house Therefore, more and more often, apartment owners are installing energy-producing solar panels on the balcony.

Installation of balcony panels

Solar panels operated on the balcony, due to limited area their installation sites must have high energy efficiency with sufficiently compact overall dimensions. To achieve this goal, balcony panels are equipped with high-capacity inverters that have high electrical output and remain operational at maximum peak loads.

The standard package of solar panels for an apartment includes the following elements:

• battery;
• inverter;
• semiconductor wafers;
• modular control system.

Semiconductor wafers convert solar energy directed at them into electrical energy. The generated current charges the battery, in which the supply of generated electricity is accumulated. An inverter is needed to convert DC voltage battery into alternating power, that is, the same as in a regular outlet.

Included in most modern solar installations also includes additional devices such as controllers and USB outputs, which can be used to charge flashlights, portable lamps, mobile phones, laptops and small household appliances.

The nuances of installing batteries

The entire solar energy conversion system is located on the balcony of the apartment; it does not require special care or constant attention. The only factor that is very important to consider is mandatory presence of positive temperature at the location of the batteries. In winter, batteries can lose a significant portion of their charge due to exposure to frost.

It is advisable to install semiconductor wafers on balcony glass, although it is also possible to install them in place of the lower ones. plastic panels window frame structure. In the first option, the energy plates will prevent the passage of sunlight into the room, but this is very beneficial in clear and hot weather. summer days. In addition, protection from ultraviolet radiation will be provided.

It is recommended to place the most voluminous elements of the entire system, batteries, under the ceiling, so that they do not occupy useful space and preserve the aesthetic appearance of the balcony. It is best to place the inverter and control unit slightly below the batteries.

Application practice

In Russian climatic conditions, experts recommend using polycrystalline modules that are highly sensitive to low levels of sunlight. Such modules are laminated durable material, protecting the plates from snow, rain and other weather influences.

For a standard balcony, people most often choose four polycrystalline panels, pointing them towards the south. The module should not be shaded by neighboring houses or trees. In summer time such a system is capable of generating up to 2 kWh of electricity per day, which is enough for energy-saving lighting of the entire apartment, charging mobile phone and a laptop, or for operating a small refrigerator or TV. In winter, solar insolation is significantly reduced, so the module acts as a backup power supply during power outages.

Cons of solar power systems

The main disadvantage of installing a solar panel on the balcony is its low energy efficiency in terms of providing electricity to all electrical appliances in the apartment. Such systems cannot generate enough current to power a water heater, electric stove, powerful washing machine or refrigerator, etc.

Typically, the design of so-called “solar houses” is carried out long before their construction. At the same time, the location of the building that is most suitable for the operation of energy systems is selected, and infrastructural features are taken into account. Thanks to the correct development of the project, such solar complexes can ensure the operation of the entire lighting system apartment building and surrounding areas, power supply for communication and security systems.

A residential solar energy system is quite expensive, so the cost of installing it takes a relatively long time to pay off. Additional costs also include the cost of re-equipment of lighting and installation of energy-saving LED lamps.

Before deciding to install a solar panel in your apartment, it is important to evaluate the pros and cons. It is necessary to weigh the required investment of funds and the return in the form of profit. It is advisable to use a solar energy system on a balcony only if it pays off the costs of its installation within a short time.

Who among us does not dream of a source of free electricity to which we could connect all our household appliances and forget about electricity bills forever. Oddly enough, such sources exist and are successfully used not only in industry, but also in everyday life, including for providing electricity to individual private houses. Windmills, solar panels - these well-known inventions convert one type of energy into another without polluting environment, and do not require fuel costs. Of course, they cannot be called absolutely free; such installations themselves are quite expensive, but the savings from their use will very soon justify all the costs. There is an opinion that alternative sources of electricity are good for private homes, but in fact they are also successfully used in apartments. In this case, an excellent solution is to install compact and easy-to-use solar panels on the balcony.

Solar panels for an apartment on a balcony should be small but powerful enough. Since their power directly depends on their size, a compromise must be sought here. Batteries are panels consisting of the following elements:

• battery;
• directly solar battery consisting of photocells;
• inverter;
• control systems.

Assembling the system yourself is not difficult, so you can install and connect it yourself, without resorting to the services of specialists. The solar battery with all its components does not take up much space and is completely located within the balcony. During operation it does not require special care– it is enough to clean it from dust and dirt if necessary.

The only requirement is the presence of a heating system on the balcony or at least an insulating layer around the entire perimeter. The equipment is sensitive to negative temperatures and winter period can work with large energy losses.

Installation of solar panels in apartment building

The system elements are placed on the balcony in such a way as not to clutter usable area and at the same time effectively perform its functions. The largest component is the battery. It can be placed right under the ceiling, mounted on the wall, where it will not disturb anyone. The solar panel, which captures solar energy and converts it into electricity, is mounted on the glass or glazing frame. At the same time, it, being not entirely transparent, plays the role of tinting and reliably protects from ultraviolet radiation.

The principle of operation of a solar battery

A solar battery is, first of all, a set of photocells that, when connected to each other, form a panel. The peculiarity of photocells is their ability to generate electrical energy under the influence of sunlight, which makes it practically free. The amount of energy produced depends on the panel material and its area. Thus, the output is constant electricity, which goes into the inverter, where it is converted into variable and can be used in everyday life. Since battery performance depends on many factors (season, weather, time of day), energy must be stored for future use, which is what the battery is used for. It accumulates electricity in itself, and then gradually releases it even when there is no sun and the battery does not perform its functions.

One of the main characteristics of any solar battery is the material for the photocells. Among the most popular:

• silicon polycrystals are the most popular material today, combining affordable price and good performance characteristics. Polysilicon panels are easy to install, so anyone can assemble them. Their characteristic feature – Blue colour a surface by which they can be easily recognized;
• Silicon monocrystals are more productive, but their cost is much higher. Another drawback is their polygonal shape. It does not make it possible to fit individual single crystals back to back, so working surface As a result, the panels are not continuous, but with many gaps, which reduces the usable area;
• Amorphous silicon is the least efficient of all types of silicon and the cheapest of them. It is used in cases where it is not required high power batteries, or for the purpose of saving;
• Cadmium telluride is applied to glass in the form of a film whose thickness is less than 0.5 mm. The film itself can be opaque or partially transmit light, so it can also be used as a tint for window glass;
• CIGS is a semiconductor, solar cells from which are also produced in the form of film, but its efficiency is higher than that of cadmium talluride.

The choice of materials is quite large, and in order to choose the right one, you need to understand them performance characteristics. Less efficient photocells cost less, but require larger area panels, so the savings here are relative. The performance difference is quite large. For example, square meter panels made from monocrystalline silicon can produce up to 125 W, and from amorphous silicon – 50 W.

On modern market most in demand monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar cells are used. The former have an efficiency of about 13%, their service life is about 30 years, but their performance is highly dependent on weather conditions. Maximum efficiency can only be obtained on a sunny, clear day, but in cloudy weather it is significantly reduced. Polycrystalline solar cells are less efficient - their maximum efficiency is 9%, their service life is also slightly shorter - up to 20 years, but their performance is practically independent of the weather.

We install solar panels on the balcony with our own hands

Pros and cons of a solar battery

The undoubted advantages of this energy source include:

• complete independence from the availability of source fuel (such as solar energy), resulting in virtually free energy;
• environmental friendliness associated with the absence of combustion or processing products;
• long service life, depending on the material of the photocells, but in any case not less than 20 years;
• reliability, which is ensured by a simple and fixed design. Static system components rarely fail;
• ease of operation. Solar panel does not need special care, it is enough to simply wipe it periodically, washing off the dust.

With all its advantages, the solar battery also has a number of disadvantages:

• dependence of installation productivity on the time of day and weather. The stronger and longer the sun shines, the more energy the battery generates, but at night or in cloudy weather the amount of electricity received is minimal;
• high cost. The output energy is indeed free, but you have to pay a lot of money for the system itself, although over time these expenses will pay off;
• low productivity;
• the need for insulation and heating of the room where the system will be located.

Connection to solar battery

It’s worth noting right away that there is no need to completely abandon centralized power supply services. Solar battery with all its positive qualities remains an alternative and additional source of energy, the quantity of which is limited. More details here. The first step is to abandon the use of powerful and too “gluttonous” electrical appliances, giving preference to energy-saving and low-power ones. For some, such steps may be associated with certain problems, because not all household appliances can be replaced with analogues with a reduced level of power consumption. It is for such cases that it is necessary to leave the possibility of connecting to public power grids.

A solar battery may well provide the required amount of electricity for one apartment, but even partial connection of individual devices to it will give good savings.

Installation of solar panels

Installation of solar panels on the balcony

Before you finally decide to install a solar panel, you need to weigh the pros and cons. Once again, it is worth recalling that the balcony must be insulated, and the temperature here should not fall below the level specified in the instructions. Ideally, it is better to make this room heated, but this is not always possible. Just in case, you need to leave the possibility of connecting the system to the general house electrical network.

Installing solar panels on an apartment balcony is quite simple. Its panels are fixed to a frame made of metal corner, which is securely fixed to load-bearing structures building: walls or floor slabs. When choosing a location for the panels, you need to remember that they will have to be cleaned regularly, so their surface should be within reach. Maximum amount Photovoltaic cells generate energy when sunlight hits them at right angles, but throughout the year the sun changes its position, so the panels must rotate at an angle of about 12º.

Installing solar panels at home

To install a solar battery you will need:

• a sheet of glass measuring 700x1050x4 mm (can be replaced with plexiglass);
• photocells, 48 ​​pieces. They can be purchased online if there are no specialized stores nearby. Photocells will be installed in 4 rows of 12 pieces each;
• aluminum corner 20x20 mm;
• soldering bars;
• soldering iron;
• tin;
• flux;
• multimeter;
• sealant.

Solar battery assembly sequence:

• manufacturing a housing on which panels with photocells are held. It is a frame welded from an aluminum corner, the dimensions of which exceed the dimensions of the glass by 5-10 mm. The gap between the glass and the frame is filled with sealant, which increases the strength of the structure;
• soldering of photocells. When working with them, you need to be careful, because they are very fragile and at the same time expensive. To securely fix the outer elements, they are soldered to the busbars;
• preparing glass by thoroughly cleaning and treating with a degreaser;
• installing glass in aluminum frame and its fixation in the desired position;
• fixing photocells on a glass surface. There must be gaps between individual photocells;
• checking the quality of soldering;
• applying sealant along the perimeter glass base, in the center and filling all the gaps with it;
• finishing reverse side panels with acrylic varnish.

Installing solar panels on the balcony Installation of solar panels Installing solar panels on the balcony with your own hands

Nowadays, almost everyone can collect and have their own independent source of electricity using solar panels(scientifically they are called photovoltaic panels).

Over time, expensive equipment is offset by the opportunity to receive free electricity. It is important that solar panels are an environmentally friendly source of energy.

Behind last years prices for photovoltaic panels have fallen tens of times and they continue to decline, which indicates great prospects when using them.

In its classical form, such a source of electricity will consist of the following parts: directly, a solar battery (DC generator), a battery with a charge control device and an inverter that converts direct current into alternating current.

Solar panels consist of a set solar cells (photovoltaic converters), which directly convert solar energy into electrical energy. Most solar cells are made from silicon, which is quite expensive. This fact will determine the high cost of electrical energy, which is obtained by using solar panels.

The most important technical parameter The solar battery that has the main influence on the efficiency of the entire installation is its useful power. It is determined by voltage and output current. These parameters depend on the intensity of sunlight hitting the battery.

Where is it advisable to place it?

Install solar panels in apartment buildings and connect them to the apartment electrical network, of course, is impractical.

• Firstly, you are unlikely to be allowed to do this by the authorities supervising the operation of city electrical networks.
• Secondly, the panel is quite expensive and complex circuit control, as well as inconvenience installation work in an apartment building will make your innovation in the field of storage and production of electrical energy economically unfeasible.

But in a private house, cottage or country house, especially if they are located further than 1.5 km from centralized power lines, it is very advisable. Purchase and installation of solar panels, as well as minimum costs their maintenance will pay off in 5-10 years. Also, when deciding whether to install solar panels, you need to determine the average intensity of sunlight for your area (solar insolation coefficient). If you live in sunny areas, then the solar panel will work practically all year round, and therefore will pay off faster. For areas and areas with insufficient luminous flux, it may not be practical to install panels at all, especially if the industrial network provides electrical energy without interruption.

Price

Solar panels as additional source electricity for a private home or cottage have become very popular lately. Despite their still fairly high cost ( one panel with a power of 100-200 W will cost $100-150), their installation in many cases can be quite justified.

In 2016, solar panels fell in price in rubles by an average of 30%

Calculation of the cost of a solar power plant for a private home

Most universal solution To provide a private home or cottage with electricity, solar power plants (solar power plants) are used. Typically such a system consists of the following components:

• solar panels (provide the conversion of light into electricity);
• battery charge controller (correct battery charging mode);
• rechargeable batteries(accumulation of electricity during the day and release in the evening and at night);
• inverter (converting DC voltage to ~220 V, 50 Hz).

To calculate the cost necessary equipment Let us consider in more detail approximate energy consumption options with different levels of generated power and connected load.

1. Full autonomous system with monthly consumption of 270 kWh/month

For example, we can take the most common Appliances: boiler, refrigerator, TV and several energy saving lamps. A simple calculation of the power of these electrical appliances and the average time they operate from an autonomous network shows the approximate result of energy consumption during the day - 8-9 kW*h with an average daily power of 0.35 - 0.40 kW. The average monthly result will be about 270 kW/h.

To achieve these power outputs, our system must include the following components:

• 13 solar monocrystalline panels 180 Wt ($200 x 13);
• 13 solar panel mounts ($25 x 13);
• 10 batteries 12 V, 200 Ah ($ 130 x 10);
• inverter 48 or 120 V, 2 kW ($300).

Total: $4,500.

To calculate the cost of components, average market prices were used, which gives a completely adequate idea of ​​the level of financial costs. It is important to take into account that if the service life of solar panels can be 20 years or more with only a slight decrease in their efficiency, then the service life of batteries, on average, is about 10 years.

1. Autonomous system with monthly consumption 700 kWh/month

This option differs from the previous one in increased energy consumption, which may be necessary for a large family or in cases where the comfort of the inhabitants of the house is put first and only then - saving energy. For an example of calculating power consumption, let's take the following electrical appliances: boiler, refrigerator, 7 energy-saving lamps, 2 TVs, street lighting and pump. Approximate energy consumption during the day in this case will be 20-23 kW*h with an average daily power of up to 1 kW. With such indicators, the average monthly result will be about 700 kW/h.

Approximate cost calculation of components:

• 33 solar monocrystalline panels 180 Wt ($200 x 33 = $6,600);
• 33 solar panel mounts ($25 x 33 = $825);
• 20 batteries 12 V, 200 Ah ($ 130 x 20 = $ 2600);
• inverter 48 or 120 V, 3 kW ($500).

Total: $10,525.

1. Backup system with monthly consumption of 150 kWh

This version of the system is designed to operate during short-term power outages from the main grid, although it can also be used as a seasonal source of electricity, e.g. country house to provide basic needs. As an example, to calculate energy costs, you can take into account the load from a refrigerator, a pair of energy-saving lamps, a TV and a pump.

With average energy costs of up to 5 kWh/day, the simplest system is sufficient, which includes the following components:

• 7 solar monocrystalline panels 180 Wt ($200 x 7 = $1,400);
• 7 solar panel mounts ($25 x 7 = $175);
• 2 batteries 12 V, 200 Ah ($ 130 x 2 = $ 260);
• inverter 48 or 120 V, 0.5 kW ($100);
• closet automatic switching on reserve ($270).

Total: $2,205.

1. Two 120 W modules, 20 ampere MPPT controller, 2 100Ah gel batteries, 1300 W inverter with a pure sine wave signal.

Provides electricity to small country house V summer period without electrical heating. The inverter instantly turns on the backup power circuit when the main one is turned off. Maximum power consumption is 1.3 kilowatts.

System output in summer (April-August): 1.1-1.25 kW per hour/day in the Leningrad region.

Overall dimensions of the 120 W model: 1170 x 670 x 40 mm. Weight of each battery: about 35 kg.

Solar batteries, price: 48,200 rubles. Installation cost from 12 thousand rubles.

1. One 60W solar battery, 10 ampere MPPT controller, 60Ah battery, 600 W inverter with a modified sine wave.

Allows you to provide electricity to the needs of temporary housing or small house: lighting, phone charge, laptop, TV, etc. Maximum power consumption 600 watts.

Overall dimensions of the 60 W version: 830 x 670 x 40 mm.

Approximately 3700 rubles. Installation is possible with your own hands.

Advantages of solar powered residential buildings

• The sun's energy is infinite (at least for the next 5 billion years, give or take),
• provides clean energy,
• no greenhouse gas emissions, and it can save people money on their electric bills.

But there are factors to consider when deciding to go solar - and cost is only one of them. In this article we will look at six of the most important issues that need to be addressed when you are thinking about investing in solar panel installation. Using photovoltaic energy is a very green solution and a potentially useful step, but it's not quite as easy as getting your energy from the regular electricity grid.

The first factor is one you may not have thought about:

1. Service

Powering your home to use solar energy requires more maintenance than running a regular old power grid. But not by much.

Solar panels have no moving parts. They are part of a complete stationary system. So once they're installed, there's not much that can go wrong. Just about the only thing a homeowner has to do is keep the panels clean. This important task, because there is too much snow, dust and bird droppings on panels may reduce the amount of sunlight. Dust accumulation on the screen can reduce the amount of electricity produced by the system by as much as 7 percent.

This type of maintenance does not need to be done once a week, however. It is enough to water the panels with a hose one to four times a year. You don't need to climb onto the roof to do this. A hose with a ground attachment works great. If there is construction in your area, you will need to clean the panels more often to avoid additional build-up dust buildup.

In addition, check from time to time that all parts are in working order. In addition, the batteries need to be replaced, but this is once a decade.

1. Neighborhood

The location of your home has a big impact on your solar energy efficiency. This is an obvious problem: If your electrical power depends on sunlight, things like shadows tall trees and tall shadows from buildings will be a problem.

This is still a big problem than some people understand. Various types panels react differently to shadow. While polycrystalline panels can significantly reduce power output, any amount of shading on a monocrystalline panel will stop power production completely.

Thus, to build a solar house, it is necessary to ensure that there is no shadow on the panel across the roof area during the sunny hours of the day (usually from 10 am to 2 o'clock) and preferably during all sunny hours. How more hours The panels are exposed to full sunlight, the more efficient the electricity production will be.

Achieving the greatest efficiency may mean pruning or completely removing trees on your property. If your home is surrounded high-rise buildings that block the sun from the roof is a big problem.

1. Insolation

Sunlight obviously plays a key role when it comes to solar energy, and not all regions have a level playing field in this regard. It's important to know how much sunlight reaches the ground in the area where your potential solar home is located.

What we are talking about here is called insolation - a measure of how much solar radiation will fall to the ground in a particular area in a certain period of time. This is usually measured in kW/m2/days and will tell you how much sunlight will be available for your solar panels to turn into electricity. The higher the insolation value in your area, the more electricity each of your panels will be able to generate. A high insolation value means you can get more energy from smaller panels. A low insolation value means you could end up spending more to achieve the same power output.

So you should build your solar home in the southwest instead of the northwest? Not at all. It just means you'll probably need more panels to achieve the same power output.

1. Coverage area

Contrary to what most people think, the size of a solar power system has nothing to do with the size of the home.

Instead, there are only two parameters to consider:

• insolation, which we just discussed,
• how much energy do you need.

To get a very rough estimate of how big a system you need, look at your electricity bill and figure out how many kWh you use per day.

The average home uses about 900 kWh per month, or about 30 kWh per day. Multiply this by 0.25. We get 7.5, so we need a 7.5 kW system.

A typical solar panel produces up to 120 watts, or 0.12 kW per day. To provide 7.5 kW, you need about 62 panels. One panel can be approximately 142 by 64 centimeters, so a 62-panel would take up approximately 65 square meters.

You should also consider insolation and how many hours of peak sunlight you get per day, and also make adjustments if you are using batteries with panels. Therefore, it is best to turn to a professional.

1. Expenses

In 1956, solar panels cost about $300 per watt. Only the very rich could afford a 7.5 kW system.

Of course, you can partially provide for the house solar energy. If you want to invest $2,000 in solar panels, you can supplement the electricity from the grid with 1.5-kW solar system. Although in the West they already practice renting solar panels. There are no advance payments. Homeowners pay a monthly rent to use the panels, and the rental company owns and maintains them.

1. Disposal

The service life of solar panels is 40-50 years, the controller and inverter are 15-20 years, batteries, depending on the type and nature of use, are 4-10 years.
Although the issue of recycling solar panels remains open, only 30% of all manufacturers accept them back for recycling.
But nevertheless, the demand for used solar panels is growing every year. As the extraction of rare metals becomes increasingly expensive pleasure, and recycling the panels will lead to their reuse.

In addition: there is a secondary market for photo- and wind-electric installations, where already used equipment can find further use.

In countries with economies in transition, previously used solar modules can be used. Thanks to more intense solar radiation, these modules can generate more electricity.