| Q: Where can we use Solar lighting system? |
| A: Solar lighting system can be used anywhere where we need lighting. It is a source of clean energy and can be used at home, offices, hotels, hospitals, rural areas, remote villages etc. |
 |
| Q: How much light does a solar lamp provide? |
| A: In solar lighting system lamps used are CFL ( Compact Fluorescent
Lamp ). It consumes 70 - 80 % less energy than ordinary incandescent bulbs. The light output of 5, 7, 9, & 11 watts CFL's can be compared to 25, 40, 60 & 75 watts ordinary bulb respectively. |
|
| Q: What is the lighting life of a solar lamp/CFL during each day? |
| A: 3-4 hours a day |
|
| Q: What happens to the productivity of the system during rainy season? |
| A:Solar lighting system generate electricity in cloudy weather although their output is reduced. Solar PV needs only sunlight not the heat of the sun, therefore the system even can work in rainy season i.e. in diffused light conditions. Hence, in our area, solar lighting system works almost throughout the year. |
|
| Q: How the solar lighting system work? |
| A:When sunrays falls on solar cell inside the solar module electricity is generated. This electricity is stored in the battery. This battery delivers electricity to the lamps (CFL) whenever required. The charge controller regulates total operation of the system. |
|
| Q:What is the expected life of using components in solar lighting system? |
A:The expected life of various components of solar lighting system is as follows
1. Solar PV Module 20 - 25 years.
2. Battery 8 - 10 years.
3. CFL 4 - 5 years.
4. Charge Controller 8 - 10 years. |
|
| Q: Can we operate television, refrigerator, fan etc. on solar lighting system? |
| A: Yes, But these appliances consume more power due to their
high wattage. So the solar modules, batteries etc. required will be of much higher rating. |
|
| Q: What is the maintenance required for solar lighting system? |
| A: Though we supply maintenance free battery, regular cleaning/ dusting of the module is a must as per the instructions given by the installer at the time of installation. |
|
| Q: What are the advantages of solar lighting system? |
| A: There are various advantages of solar photovoltaic technology;
1. There is no need to depend on conventional electric supply or other fuel like Kerosene, Gas etc. So you can fully rely on solar lighting system to deliver light for specified hours throughout the year.
2. As the electricity is generated by using sunlight, which is freely available anywhere. So the electricity can be generated at any remote place, where regular electricity cannot reach.
3. Solar lighting system works on low voltage 12 VDC, so it is much safer compare to 230V Ac supply
voltage.
4. Solar electricity saves the conventional fuels & reduces the environmental pollution.
5. Very easy to install & operate.
|
|
| Q: Why solar lighting system are expensive? |
| A: The main costly component in solar lighting system is solar module. The manufacturing process of silicon cell used, in solar module is very complicated & costly. Hence, the overall cost of solar lighting system is on higher side. |
|
| Q: Is it inverter/ UPS system? |
| A: No, solar lighting systems are not inverter/ UPS systems because of two reasons Firstly we generate our own electricity & use this energy daily, & not only during power emergency. Secondly the electricity generated is free of cost, while running of inverter or UPS comes at a cost, since they need to be charged with electric power to function optimally during emergency. |
|
| ... on Photovoltaics |
| Q: What is photovoltaics? |
| A: Solar, or photovoltaic, technology is considered to be the most promising and elegant means of renewable energy production for the future. It provides an easy and reliable way of converting sunlight directly into electricity. |
|
| Q: What happens to the electricity that I do not use during a given day? |
| A: If your state has net metering, when you produce more electricity than you use, you get credit for that electricity, and it is balanced against those times when you use more than you produce (for example, during the evening). At the end of the month or year, depending on your state, you will pay just the net difference. |
|
| Q: How do I maintain my system? |
| A: SunTechnics photovoltaic systems are low maintenance systems, since there are no moving parts, we use only the highest quality components, and we install them professionally. Generally, it is only necessary to wipe down the solar panels at regular intervals to remove any debris and dust. Depending on the location of your system, an annual cleaning may suffice. Please refer to your owner’s manual for more information or contact SunTechnics Energy Systems, Inc. for a list of authorized service
technicians. |
|
| Q: How does it work? |
| A: Solar water heater works on the principle of thermosyphon- that hot water has lower density than cold water and thus has a tendency to rise. A selective coated absorber inside the flat-plate collector absorbs the solar radiations to heat the water flowing through it. The water circulates from the solar collector to the inner container by natural thermosyphon process. |
|
| Q: How does the system function on cloudy days? |
| A: On cloudy days, heating of water in the solar system gets affected to some extent. However, these systems are available with a suitable electric backup heater to take care of hot water demand on cloudy days. |
|
| Q: How long will the water stay hot? Does one get hot water at dawn (early mornings) when the sun is literally not out? |
| A: Water heated during the previous day becomes available for use the next morning. Hot water produced by the solar system during the day is stored in an insulated storage tank. High quality of PUF insulation ensures that water remains hot without significant drop in temperature for around 24 hours. |
|
| Q: What are the basic requirements for installation of a solar water heating system? |
| A: The prime requisite of a solar system is availability of unobstructed sunlight for the whole day. As far as possible, the area should be flat, away from rainwater drains and close to the area (bathroom, kitchen etc) where hot water needs to be supplied. |
|
| Q: What are the operational requirements? |
A: - If the system is not being used say during summers, it should be drained of water and the collector should be covered
- Dust deposition on the collector reduces the efficiency. Therefore it should be cleaned at least once a week. |
|
| Q: What are the maintenance requirements? |
| A: Solar water heating system does not need significant maintenance. In case of hard water, scale deposition may take place in the collectors over the years. The same should be de-scaled under the supervision of service personnel only. |
|
| Q: What is the expected life of a solar water heater? |
| A: Good quality solar water heater will last for about 15-20 years. |
|
| Q: Are there any financial incentives from the government on these systems? |
| A: The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) provides soft loans with interest @ 2% to domestic users, 3%-5% to institutional users from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), public/private sector banks, scheduled cooperative banks; RBI approved non-banking financial companies, intermediaries of IREDA and other public/ private financial institutions (FIs). The borrowers are eligible for loan upto 85% of the cost of the system, repayable over a period of five years. |
|
| ... on Bioenergy |
| Q: What is biomass? |
| A: Organic matter available on a renewable basis. Biomass includes agricultural and agro industrial by-products. |
|
| Q: What is Bioenergy? |
| A: Biomass energy or "bioenergy" includes any solid, liquid or gaseous fuel, or any electric power or useful chemical product derived from organic matter, whether directly from plants or indirectly from plant-derived industrial activities. |
|
| Q: Where are biomass resources located? |
| A: Every part of the earth has a biomass resource that can be
tapped to create power. |
|
| Q: What
are industrial biomass residues? |
A: A few examples are:
| Industry |
Biomass
residue generated |
Nature |
| Rice
mills |
Rice
husk |
Powdery |
| Saw
mills |
Saw dust and wood chips
|
Powdery and woody
|
| Coffee curing industry |
Coffee husk |
Powdery |
|
Groundnut decorticating
|
Groundnut
shells |
Powdery |
|
|
|
| Q: What
are Field biomass residues? |
A: A few examples
are:
| Crop |
Biomass
residue produced |
Nature |
| Maize (Corn Crop) |
Corn cobs & Stover |
Semi-woody |
| Wheat |
Wheat straw
|
Powdery
|
| Paddy |
Paddy
straw |
Leafy |
|
Sugar cane
|
Cane trash |
Leafy |
| coconut |
Coconut
fronds
Coconut shells
Coconut husk
|
Woody
Woody
Fibrous |
|
Prosopis Juliflora spp.
|
Prosopis wood
grown as weed |
Woody |
|
|
|
| Q: What is biomass gasification all about? |
| A: Gasification is a process, which converts solid fuel into a gaseous fuel through a process of high temperature oxidation-reduction reactions. |
|
| Q: What is the product of gasification? |
| A: The product of gasification is a fuel. The fuel is called producer gas. |
|
| Q: How can the producer gas be used? |
| A: It can be used for combustion purposes for thermal energy
production and electricity generation using 100 % producer gas engines. |
|
| Q: What is the composition of producer gas? |
| A: Typical producer gas consists of 20% CO, 20% H 2, 2% CH
4, 12% CO 2, and rest nitrogen. |
|
| Q: How much biomass resources are available in India? |
- MRES (formerly MNES) has stated in its report (Renewable Energy in India Business Opportunities, 2001) that the power potential from Biomass in the country is
about 19,500 MW.
- The Energy Research Institute, in its annual publication (Tata Energy Data Directory and Yearbook (TEDDY), had included a table giving biomass resources in its 1996/97 edition as 267.7
million tons.
Various types of Agro Field/Industrial Residues:
| Type |
Quantity
(Million t/a) |
| Straws
of various pulses & cereals |
225.50 |
| Bagasse |
31.00
|
| Rice Husk |
10.00 |
|
Groundnut Shell
|
11.10 |
| Stalks |
02.00
|
|
Various Oil Stalks
|
04.50 |
| Others |
65.90
|
|
TOTAL
|
350.00 |
|
Source: IREDA website
|
|
| Q: What are the fiscal incentives for biomass gasifier based power generation available in India? |
A: Incentives from Central Government for Biomass Gasifier based power generation:
- Income tax holiday
- Accelerated depreciation
-
Concession on custom duty/duty free import
- Capital/Interest Subsidy
|
