Alternative Power Source

Solar Energy

Solar power has been around now for a while, but it is yet to take off fully in the Kenyan market. Solar energy as the name suggests, is basically energy powered by the sun. You’d think that Kenya being a tropical country- meaning there’s good supply of sun all year round, and with the expensive sometimes unreliable electricity supply, we would take advantage of this alternative easily available cheaper source of energy.

A surface look into how solar Panels work.

Solar panels work by transforming the suns energy into electricity. The energy is absorbed by cells in the panels and transformed from light into electric currents. To maximize the energy transmitted, the panels will be placed on the roof of the building in a position that captures the sun directly throughout the day. This is best done by qualified and experienced solar panel fitters.

Efficiency and performance of solar power

The efficiency of solar power is usually measured by the amount of sunlight hitting a panel that gets translated into electricity. If the panels are of high efficiency then their size will be smaller. However, a typical roof can easily be outfitted with sufficient power to cover energy needs. There are also other factors besides size and efficiency that affect the performance of solar panels. The placement position of the panels greatly determines performance as they have to be fitted in an angle that gets the most of the sun. Patterns of shade on the roof are also considered as shade affects energy production.

Cost of Solar Panels

The cost of solar panels varies depending on the usability. For instance a small household will use much less as compared to a medium sized institution.

As opposed to say electric power, the cost of the solar panels is a lot less especially as there are no monthly bills. Expect for regular maintenance, the major investment is purchasing and installation of the panels themselves although the cost of rewiring might also come into play. A number of companies in Kenya offer products and installation of solar panels like Sun Power Technologies Ltd and Sollatek Kenya amongst others. Solar panels are also available in leading supermarkets but are best purchased from the companies that also do the installation.

If the whole process of setting up a full solar power source seems slightly overwhelming for now, there is also the alternative of buying the separate solar powered lights that can go a long way to save on the monthly power bills. These products usually have their own panels which are placed out in the sun to charge for some hours during the day and can be used to light up rooms for up to several hours. Some even come with phone charging outlets and can come in handy especially when there are power blackouts. The cost is between 3k to 5k, have warranty, and can last several years without extra costs if taken proper care of. These particular products are relatively new in the Kenyan market and are available from suppliers and from leading supermarkets.

For more insights and ideas please visit our full site at www.fundimjanja.com