Combined Solar Heat and Power System

Combining Renewable Energy systems allows for a maximized ability to live independently from utility companies.

There are many different ways to combine Renewable Energy (RE) resources for your home or office building. Solar heat and solar electricity represent one possible combination of systems that can maximize your ability to harness the sun's power.

Multiple Systems Combined

There are several variations of how solar heat and solar electricity can be produced. For example, a solar hot water system can be fed into a hot water tank and then pumped underneath a radiant floor heating system. However, the hot water tank may need help from a standard energy source in order to keep the water consistently at the correct temperature. Solar electricity can be produced from photo-voltaic cells, wired to a building's utility meter or a battery bank.

Using One System

Alternatively, if you regularly get a lot of sunshine on your property, you may be able to rely on the sun for charging and storing electricity in a deep-cycle battery bank. A switch can be installed to direct overloaded electricity from the solar power system to a space heater, which will help preserve the lifespan of the batteries. This technique can also be used for other RE systems, such as wind turbines.

Passive Solar Heating

Designing or modifying a home or building for passive solar heating can be cheaper than installing a solar heating system. Simple building upgrades can include installing more glass surfaces and windows on the south-facing side of the building and fewer windows on the north side of the building.

References

• Build it Solar: Solar Photovoltaic Projects
• Energy Savers: Active Solar Heating
• The Solar Guide: Solar Cost FAQ

Resources

• Home Power