FAQs

1. What are Renewable Energy Systems? What do they do?

2. What are the benefits of Renewable Energy?

3. Why isn't everyone using Renewable Energy Technologies?

4. Can I use solar for my home or business?

5. How does such a Solar Water Heating System work?

6. How can I make best use of my Solar Water Heating
   System in the cold winter days?

7. Can I use solar electricity to heat water or to operate my Air Conditioner?

8. How much can I expect to pay for a solar water heating system?
   How much will it save me on my electricity bill?

9. What about the night? There is no sun during night ? Where will electricity come from during night?

10. Does this system have any sound or smoke ?

11. Does it mean I will get full electricity all day without paying electricity bill ?

12. How do we trust this technology ? How can we be sure that this will really work ?

1. What are Renewable Energy Systems? What do they do?
   Different types of Renewable Energy Systems perform different types of functions, for example,
   -Photovoltaics (PV) convert sunlight into electricity using PV cells made of
   Semiconductor material.
   -Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Systems concentrate the sun’s energy into reflective -devices such as trough or mirror panels to produce heat that is used for industrial processes or to generate electricity.
   -Solar Water Heating Systems heat water, either directly or by heating a “working fluid” that then heats the water. Solar water heaters are commonly used to heat water in homes and industries like dairies for can- washing, heating air, etc. as it is a cost-effective device to heat water for industrial purposes.
   -Transpired Solar Collectors use solar energy to pre-heat ventilation air.
   -Passive Solar Energy Devices use the building itself as both solar collector and storage medium, usually by increasing the window area on the south side of the building and the amount of thermal mass inside the building to absorb the solar heat that enters through the windows.
   -Day Lighting Systems provide light during the day, significantly reducing the cost of heat gain from electric lighting.
   -Wind Turbines use the wind’s energy to generate electricity.
   -Bio-energy from biomass can be used directly as heat to power a generator to produce electricity. It can also be chemically converted into a fuel oil or liquid fuels.
   -Geothermal Energy can be used to generate electricity, heat water and heat and cool buildings.
   -Hydropower captures the energy in flowing water and uses it to generate electricity.
   -Ocean Energy can be used as either thermal energy or tapped as the mechanical energy in tides and waves.
    

2. What are the benefits of Renewable Energy?
   Renewable Energy Sources are clean and inexhaustible. The money spent on renewable energy installations tends to remain in the community, creating jobs and fuelling local economies. The use of renewable energy equipment also reduces our dependence on foreign and/or centralized sources of energy, and is an important strategy in the process of creating a truly secure and sustainable energy future.
    

3. Why isn’t everyone using Renewable Energy Technologies?
   Most renewable energy technologies are still relatively expensive compared with conventional energy sources. As consumers become more informed and environmentally aware about the consequences of their energy purchasing decisions, however, the demand for clean energy technologies will increase. When the environmental, national security, health and life cycle costs of conventional energy are taken into consideration, renewable energy technologies make sense today. Early adopters of clean energy technologies have the added challenge of dealing with a regulatory infrastructure geared to large, centralized power plants and a fossil fuel delivery system. Gradually, the barriers are coming down, as uniform interconnection standards, metering laws and other regulatory reform are put in place. And we in India have the largest renewable energy programme implemented by the central and state governments.
    

4. Can I use solar for my home or business?
   Most places have enough solar energy to meet about 80 per cent of the needs with solar energy systems. You can get more specific information by contacting a local solar system designer, installer/dealer, solar architect or a builder to discuss your requirement.
    

5. How does such a Solar Water Heating System work?
   Your Solar Water heating System is designed to operate on thremosyphon or natural convection principle. The driving force for circulation in such a system is derived purely from the density difference between hot and cold water. No mechanical or electrical device is used to pump water through the solar collector. As the water gets heated it becomes lighter, and so tends to “ automatically” rise, and in turn is displaced by the comparatively heavier cold water from the storage tank. The system is designed to facilitate optimal stratification inside the storage tank ensuring the efficiency of the system. The bottom of the hot water tank should be atleast 30 cm higher then the collector. The cold water storage tank must be about 2.5 to 3 m above the base of the collector. Generally thermosyphon systems are offered upto capacities of 3000 liters per day.  
    

6. How can I make best use of my Solar Water Heating System in the cold winter days?
   Whether the connecting pipes are properly and adequately insulated, otherwise the hot water will cool as it travels along the un-insulated pipes. The insulated pipes must be covered with aluminum cladding. If there is any denting or damage, attend to it.
   
   For leakage in the storage tank, collector, distribution pipeline and the hot water faucets in the home. This may be the cause for inadequate hot water. Contact the manufacturer, as all leakages must be stopped immediately. The insulation must not be allowed to be wet at any time.
   
   The condition of the collector regularly for dust or rain water that has entered into the collector. Proper rubber packaging will have to be re-fixed to make it water tight
   If there is any breakage or crack in the glass cover of the collector get it repaired/replaced immediately.
   
   If the collector absorber/housing has corroded, notify the manufacturer immediately and get it re-painted.
   
   Sometimes the water is not heated properly only because the black colour of the absorber has peeled off or lightened. Contact the manufacturer.
   
   If water is not heated adequately there could be a change of air locking or a sludge in the heaters or scale in the collector tubes which prevents effective functioning of the thermosyphon system and the heat transfer. Drain the water at the bottom side of the collector till there is a smooth flow of water. Close the drain plug.
    

7. Can I use solar electricity to heat water or to operate my Air Conditioner?
   It is impractical to use solar-generated electricity to heat water because a solar water heating system is a far more cost effective choice. Similarly, operating an AC is best accomplished with solar thermal strategies or equipment for the task such as passive solar home designs or transpired collectors, for example.
    

8. How much can I expect to pay for a solar water heating system? How much will it save me on my electricity bill?
   Your savings will be specific to your circumstances. Generally, all over India there is good sunlight for at least 10 months in a year. Therefore the economics of installing a solar system works out to be very attractive. Compared to the electric geyser, the Solar Water Heating System is cheaper in the long run. Moreover the heating source is sun, which is available all the year round and is free.
   
   A typical system designed for heating 100 litres of water every day, sufficient for a family of five, will cost about Rs. 17,000 – 20,000. But you will end up not paying for heating water for about 10-16 years – the lifetime of a system. The payback period of the amount you have invested will be returned within 5 years of the installation. Such a system can annually save 2300 kg of wood, 250 liters of kerosene, and 1000 units of electricity.
    

9. What about the night? There is no sun during night ? Where will electricity come from during night ?
   The Solar power system will store the energy in batteries, just like inverters, during day and use that energy to run the home during night.
    

10. Does this system have any sound or smoke ?
    No. This system works silently without any noise and has no fumes or smoke or any other byproduct. It is the most clean energy available on earth. Also there is no running cost. Once you buy the system you will get free electricity for at least 25 to 30 years.
     

11. Does it mean I will get full electricity all day without paying electricity bill ?
    Yes. Once you install our system, you will have electricity all day, provided the system you bought is big enough for your needs. If your system is of good size you can run AC and other heavy appliances too.
     

12. How do we trust this technology ? How can we be sure that this will really work ?
    Solar energy is being used extensively in westerns countries like US, Germany  and is found to be very reliable. In India also there are lots of places where solar energy is being used. You can search web about this subject. We will be using very matured and time tested components in our system to provide high quality systems. We have a plan to run field tests before delivering the technology to market.