From the category archives:

Positioning solar PV panels

Why even partial shading is bad for solar power systems

May 10, 2012

Although it probably goes without saying, shading is not good for solar panels. A shadow cast on even just part of one solar panel in your solar array can potentially compromise the output of the whole system. What are some strategies for dealing with potential shading of solar arrays? Blog this! Digg this post Recommend [...]

Read the full article →

Solar Panels and trees: both share an affinity for the sun…

April 30, 2011
Thumbnail image for Solar Panels and trees: both share an affinity for the sun…

The Solar Choice blog is full of good advice. We have written about how to orient your solar panels, how to determine what size system you’ll need, how much you might expect to earn or save through government solar power incentives (feed-in tariffs and RECs) with a solar PV system, and how to troubleshoot electricity production [...]

Read the full article →

East or West orientation for solar panels

April 19, 2011
Thumbnail image for East or West orientation for solar panels

Determining the orientation and tilt angle of your solar power generation system is one of the most important considerations in designing your solar power system. As we have mentioned before, in the southern hemisphere, due North is the optimum orientation for panels. But not everyone has a perfectly oriented roof. When your two best options [...]

Read the full article →

Flexible Thin-film Solar photovoltaics

April 13, 2011

In a previous Solar Choice blog entry, Prateek Chourdia wrote about some emerging trends in the future of photovoltaic solar technology, including thin-film solar power. This entry will summarise some of the salient points regarding thin-film technologies, otherwise known as flexible photovoltaics, and discuss their possible future direction. Blog this! Digg this post Recommend on [...]

Read the full article →

How to install a solar panel mounting system on your roof

April 12, 2011
Thumbnail image for How to install a solar panel mounting system on your roof

For most people who decide to mount solar panels on their roof, a mounting system is necessary. This short entry explains the basics of what needs to be taken into consideration when putting a solar array on your roof. -Read about Solar Panel Tilt and Orientation in Australia- (Get a free comparison of solar quotes of the [...]

Read the full article →

Solar-powered carports

April 7, 2011
Thumbnail image for Solar-powered carports

The number of small, simple ways to put solar power to use in daily life seems virtually endless, and opportunities present themselves at every corner. Solar carports are one innovative way to turn an ordinarily passive, mundane, everyday item into an electricity generation system that works for you. It’s the sort of thing that, when [...]

Read the full article →

BIPV: Building-integrated Photovoltaics, the future of PV

April 1, 2011
Thumbnail image for BIPV: Building-integrated Photovoltaics, the future of PV

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is exactly what the name indicates: solar power generation modules that are integrated directly into a building in the place of ordinary building materials. BIPV differs in a number of ways from the PV arrays that most of us are familiar with: the roof-mounted or rack-mounted PV arrays that are retrofitted onto [...]

Read the full article →

Ground-screws for ground-mounted solar power systems

February 25, 2011
Thumbnail image for Ground-screws for ground-mounted solar power systems

Ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are ideal for those who have space to spare on their property. The are becoming increasingly common. In fact, there is a movement to recruit solar farmers, who, taking advantage of generous feed-in tariffs and solar rebate incentives, would be able to turn a profit from otherwise unproductive land. This [...]

Read the full article →

Asbestos in my roof! Can I install solar panels?

February 24, 2011
Thumbnail image for Asbestos in my roof! Can I install solar panels?

You are now mentally and financially prepared and willing to go ahead with a solar panel (photovoltaic) installation on the roof of your home. The only problem is, after having your potential installer come out and have a look at it, you’ve found out that your roof has got asbestos in it and your installer [...]

Read the full article →

Own and Run a Solar Farm

February 4, 2011
Thumbnail image for Own and Run a Solar Farm

The image of a rural plot with a wind turbine producing electricity to be fed into the electricity grid with cattle milling about underneath grazing the grass has become a familiar one, but more and more rural Australian landholders are also making the choice to own and run solar farms. Blog this! Digg this post Recommend [...]

Read the full article →

Frequently Asked Questions!

August 5, 2010
Thumbnail image for Frequently Asked Questions!

We get asked a lot of questions and sometimes the answers just remain on the page of the article and it is hard for others to keep track of them, so we have decided to summarize some of the key questions we have faced here is a summary of answers to frequently asked questions. Blog [...]

Read the full article →

Solar Panels on your roof and where else? (part two)

July 9, 2010
Thumbnail image for Solar Panels on your roof and where else? (part two)

Earlier in the week we looked at Solar Panels in the Transportation Industry, this time around we will take a look at other commercial scale concepts/ideas that take into consideration the advantages offered by the different types of solar cells (mono/multi/amorphous silicon). Blog this! Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share with [...]

Read the full article →

Solar Panels on your roof and where else?

July 5, 2010
Thumbnail image for Solar Panels on your roof and where else?

This week we’ll take a brief look at the versatility of solar power and what people are doing with their photovoltaic panels. This first segment will take a look at public transportation and personal rapid transportation with respect to what’s being done in Australia! Blog this! Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin [...]

Read the full article →

How does my Solar Energy Panel perform over time?

April 19, 2010
Thumbnail image for How does my Solar Energy Panel perform over time?

Last week in “The Manufacturing and Science behind Solar Energy Panels” we talked about the different types of solar panels you could purchase and what all those complicated names meant. This week we shall focus on all the reasons why your cells might not be performing up to specification and whether its a temporary problem [...]

Read the full article →

Solar trackers

January 21, 2010
Thumbnail image for Solar trackers

A good way to maximise the output of your solar PV system is to have it mounted on a solar tracker. Solar trackers can boost the electrical output of your PV system significantly, allowing you to earn more income from the feed-in tariff. However, as discussed in this article, the economics of solar trackers are [...]

Read the full article →

Ground mounted solar PV systems

January 13, 2010
Thumbnail image for Ground mounted solar PV systems

The majority of home solar installations are rooftop mounted panels. Roofs offer a practical and ready location to install solar cells on most occasions. But on some occasions the rooftop is just not suitable, or optimal. In this situation the alternative is to have your solar PV system mounted on the ground. This article will outline [...]

Read the full article →

Solar Panel Tilt and Orientation in Australia

Thumbnail image for Solar Panel Tilt and Orientation in Australia January 7, 2010

Solar panels are installed differently based on their geographic locations throughout the world. The premise behind this is simple; the sun is in a different place in the sky, so panels need to be directed according to this positioning. Blog this! Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share with Stumblers Tweet about [...]

Read the full article →