| Many myths and much misinformation surround solar | | | | Solar thermal heating has been in use for many years |
| and renewable energy. One such myth is that solar | | | | in northern areas, where, the further north the location, |
| energy doesn't travel well and can't function in the | | | | more solar thermal collectors are added to |
| frozen far north. Truth or lie? Let's find out. | | | | compensate for less light in winter. In fact, the further |
| Passive Solar | | | | north, the quicker the solar system will pay for itself |
| Not only does solar energy work in northern latitudes, | | | | due to the colder, cloudier climate and the resultant |
| but it works extremely well. There are many examples | | | | need for more heat. |
| of buildings that are well-designed from the standpoint | | | | If You Design It, It Will Work! |
| of passive solar energy production, and a visit to one | | | | Because of the more limited amount of sunlight |
| of these buildings may be a very pleasant surprise | | | | available the further north it's installed, a PV system |
| when you feel how warm and cozy it is inside. Any | | | | needs to be designed much more carefully in order to |
| insulated south-facing windows will allow heat from the | | | | operate as efficiently as possible, taking into |
| sun in and, on sunnier days, will heat the area in which | | | | consideration the optimum location of the panels |
| the windows are located up to the equivalent of half a | | | | (facing south is best), tilt angle (90 degrees is best - the |
| gallon or so of heating oil. If the windows are also | | | | sun's rays hit the PV array at a perpendicular angle; if |
| covered with shutters or shades at night, thus retaining | | | | the tilt is adjusted seasonally, an array's power |
| more heat, the equivalent amount of heating oil | | | | production can be increased significantly) and the load |
| produced per square foot could be up to as much as | | | | requirements. |
| a gallon. | | | | In addition to the benefits of good design, there are PV |
| Solar Loves The Far North | | | | panels available that have been designed to work |
| There are countless examples of solar electric | | | | more efficiently in cloudier, more northerly areas. Also, |
| systems being installed and used very successfully in | | | | since utility rates can be much higher in colder, |
| far northern latitudes in both Canada and the most | | | | higher-latitude regions, where the need for heat is |
| northerly regions of the United States. It may surprise | | | | greater, solar energy systems can be even more |
| you to learn that Germany is the second largest user | | | | advantageous. In fact, in some places, the colder the |
| of solar electricity generated by photovoltaic modules, | | | | temperature, the clearer, more sunny it is, resulting in |
| and Germany's not exactly located in the Sunbelt! In | | | | greater solar electricity generation. Not only that, but |
| fact, far from it; its latitude is 48 to 54 degrees, very | | | | solar panels operate more efficiently in cooler |
| similar to Canada. | | | | temperatures. Cold, or, at least, cool, has its |
| The shorter winter days are obviously not particularly | | | | advantages! |
| conducive to the production of solar electricity, but, | | | | Technically, No Barriers |
| thanks to the implementation of net metering for | | | | Since there are no barriers, technically, to solar |
| on-grid systems and the longer, sunnier days of | | | | electricity being used in far northern latitudes, and since |
| summer, this is offset to a great extent. An interesting | | | | utility rates and reliability of the supply of power can be |
| fact is that, in northern regions, there has been a major | | | | issues, solar electricity and solar thermal have much to |
| shift in peak electrical loads from winter to summer in | | | | offer in those areas, and are an extremely viable |
| recent times, opening the door for an increase in the | | | | proposition. |
| application of solar electricity. | | | | Myth gone south! |