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Renewable energy

 

The use of renewable energy at home to cut cost, reduce CO2 output, and to save the planet, one step at a time.

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Our PV installation in progress
Our PV installation in progress

Solar PV and Battery

 

Solar PV and Battery

 

Solar Electricity Generation

 

I have been watching the development of Solar photovoltaics (PV) for many years.

Initially as part of a design project for an all terrain expedition vehicle / motorhome. A roof predominantly covered with PV panels and a bank of 10 deep cycle batteries. I also went to a Caravan and Motorhome show and saw a PV panel mounted on a devise that looked like a satellite dish support, but instead of having a dish, it had a PV panel. It tracked the sun, to maximise power generation.

The Oyster SunMover System is an intelligent GPS controlled solar tracking system. It can automatically track the suns path throughout the day and adjust as necessary to maximise solar energy capture making it more efficient than standard fixed solar panels.

The system itself consists of a 75W solar panel attached to a specially designed electronic mechanism which is controlled internally via its own control system in the roof unit making installation simpler. On average the system is capable of harvesting approximately three times the power of a 75W fixed solar panel on its own. This is even more important in the winter months where the angle of insolation (the angle of the suns rays on the earth) is much greater i.e. the sun is effectively lower in the sky. The Oyster SunMover can adjust the elevation (the angle of the solar panel) to maximise energy harvest throughout the year.

This was a long time ago, and I can't remember if the make was Oyster or the price. However, at over £2000 before being discontinued, for just one panel, it was not directly pursued.

Google Map view of our house during PV installation
Google Map view of our house during PV installation

Solar PV and Battery Impact

 

Solar PV and Battery Impact

 

I have been watching the development of Solar photovoltaics (PV) for many years.

Initially as part of a design project for a all terrain expedition vehicle / motorhome. A roof predominantly covered with PV panels and a bank of 10 deep cycle batteries. I also went to a Caravan and Motorhome show and saw a PV panel mounted on a devise that looked like a satellite dish support, but instead of having a dish, it had a PV panel. It tracked the sun, to maximise power generation.

The Oyster SunMover System is an intelligent GPS controlled solar tracking system. It can automatically track the suns path throughout the day and adjust as necessary to maximise solar energy capture making it more efficient than standard fixed solar panels.

The system itself consists of a 75W solar panel attached to a specially designed electronic mechanism which is controlled internally via its own control system in the roof unit making installation simpler. On average the system is capable of harvesting approximately three times the power of a 75W fixed solar panel on its own. This is even more important in the winter months where the angle of insolation (the angle of the suns rays on the earth) is much greater i.e. the sun is effectively lower in the sky. The Oyster SunMover can adjust the elevation (the angle of the solar panel) to maximise energy harvest throughout the year.

This was a long time ago, and I can't remember if the make was Oyster or the price. However, at over £2000 before being discontinued, for just one panel, it was not directly pursued.

Google Map view of our house during PV installation
Google Map view of our house during PV installation

PV solar panels and battery - strategy

 

PV solar panels and battery

 

Choices

 

It may seem a simple case of paying to have a few PV panels up on your roof and then reaping the benefits.

However, it is much, much more complicated than that.

The first thing, as with a lot of things, is to have a strategy.

The strategy may be just PV orientated or cover all green activities in a refurbishment, or even new build.

 

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