Solar — Page 2

Four volcanic hotspots in the Solar System

Four volcanic hotspots in the Solar System: Io has volcanism. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona Evidence for current volcanic activity on the planet Venus has recently made the news. But Venus is far from the only world beyond Earth to exhibit signs of volcanic activity. In fact, having volcanic activity (volcanism) on planets is quite common. Here …

How to Reduce the Pain of your Solar Panels being Stolen

How to Reduce the Pain of your Solar Panels being Stolen: Insider tips to buying Solar Panels What to do if you intend to ‘expand’ later Why we cannot ‘just add another panel’ to an installation Talk to your insurance company before doing any solar installation Solar panels are a commodity that can be stolen …

The power of the sun: 3 solar tips for the South African homeowner

The power of the sun: 3 solar tips for the South African homeowner: It doesn’t look like loadshedding will be going anywhere for the foreseeable future. This means that adopting alternative energy sources, like solar, is essential for South African homeowners. Here are 3 dos and don’ts to follow when it comes to solar. Invest …

Keep the solar system in your pocket with a Raspberry Pi

Keep the solar system in your pocket with a Raspberry Pi: Keep the solar system in your pocket with a Raspberry Pi cherrybomb Mon, 03/13/2023 – 03:00 In my previous article, I talked about Stellarium in a web browser. This stellar software allows for a 3D view of your local sky, with amazing telescopic and …

You Missed a Golden Opportunity at Payback for Your Solar Incentives Minister

You Missed a Golden Opportunity at Payback for Your Solar Incentives Minister: Where the Solar Incentive for Private Residences Falls Down A small tweak to the incentive will result in a ‘payback’ to Government Let’s replace taxpayer cash to Eskom with Taxpayer Electricity to the Grid The recently introduced Solar Incentives in the 2023 Budget …

Dear Minister Godongwana and @TreasuryRSA – THIS is a Valid Suggestion for Solar Incentives

Dear Minister Godongwana and @TreasuryRSA – THIS is a Valid Suggestion for Solar Incentives: During his State of the Nation Address on 9 February, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, would reveal a tax incentive related to rooftop solar for households and businesses during the 2023 Budget on 22 February. …

Solar Installer Best Practices

Solar Installer Best Practices: A comprehensive list to guide you to the best Solar PV Installation Important Items to Check During Your Solar PV Installation Ask these questions BEFORE ordering your Solar PV System How to check if your Solar PV Installer is Registered, Qualified and Competent A downloadable checklist to help you make the …

Ditch the 4×4 – THIS Solar 5×5 is Much Cheaper and Has a Much Higher ROI

Ditch the 4×4 – THIS Solar 5×5 is Much Cheaper and Has a Much Higher ROI: Let’s first warn sensitive readers that we will be using two South African swear words extensively in this article: Eskom and Loadshedding. If you have a weak heart or are prone to uncontrolled bursts of anger when things go …

Install open source solar power at home

Install open source solar power at home: Install open source solar power at home Joshua Pearce Fri, 12/09/2022 – 03:00 You might have already given some thought to powering your home with solar. Solar photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, have fallen so far down in cost that it makes economic sense everywhere. …

Why Installing Solar Panels on an Asbestos or Cement Roof is a Bad Thing!

Why Installing Solar Panels on an Asbestos or Cement Roof is a Bad Thing!: With loadshedding and the high price of electricity driving more and more people to install solar solutions on their roofs we are finding more and more clients wanting to install systems on roofs that are not 100% suited to such installations. …

France’s plan for solar panels on all car parks is just the start of an urban renewable revolution

France’s plan for solar panels on all car parks is just the start of an urban renewable revolution: Wang An Qi/Shutterstock France has approved legislation that will require all car parks with more than 80 spaces to be covered over by solar panels. This is part of a wider programme that will see solar panels …

Solar farms a ‘blight on the landscape’? Research shows they can benefit wildlife

Solar farms a ‘blight on the landscape’? Research shows they can benefit wildlife: Liz Truss, the new UK prime minister, isn’t a fan of solar farms. In 2014, when she was environment secretary, she described rows of panels arranged in a field to capture energy from the sun as a “blight on the landscape”. Eight …

Expanded access to solar power in Africa can stimulate economic development – but there are risks

Expanded access to solar power in Africa can stimulate economic development – but there are risks: The African Energy Commission says expanded access to new, people-centred renewable energy systems will "lift hundreds of millions of people" out of poverty. KRISS75/Shutterstock UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 aspires to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern …

Comparing solar power to traditional power generation the open way

Comparing solar power to traditional power generation the open way: Comparing solar power to traditional power generation the open way Ron McFarland Thu, 08/11/2022 – 03:00 1 reader likes this 1 reader likes this This is the second article in a two-part series on energy disruption that could lead to open organization projects. In the …

Curious Kids: is it possible to see what is happening in distant solar systems now?

Curious Kids: is it possible to see what is happening in distant solar systems now?: Tithi Luadthong/Shutterstock If a distant solar system is millions of light years away and so we see it as it was millions of years ago, how can we see what it looks like now? Parul, aged 13, Sri Ganganagar, India …

Rooftop Solar Under Ramaphosa’s ‘New Deal’ – Look Before You Leap

Rooftop Solar Under Ramaphosa’s ‘New Deal’ – Look Before You Leap: On Monday evening 25 June 2022, President Ramaphosa announced widespread plans to help get private investment onboard in solving South Africa’s energy crisis. “There is one major incentive that we would have appreciated the President introducing for domestic rooftop solar,” says Straton Solar (detailed …

How to Measure Whether Your Solar System CAN function Off-Grid or Not?

How to Measure Whether Your Solar System CAN function Off-Grid or Not?: “We have seen many people on social media saying that they are installing a 5 kW inverter and 12/16 solar panels so that they can say goodbye to Eskom and, in many cases, I would say that they have been misled,” says Alan …