Scotian WindFields Inc

Description

Solar Energy is unquestionably one of the greatest sources of energy on our planet. The potential is so vast that the energy from sunlight striking the earth for 40 minutes is equivalent to global energy consumption for a year. There are three basic methods of capturing solar energy: passive solar: capturing the sun's energy by orienting buildings to face south solar thermal: heating water (or another liquid) to provide heat and hot water photovoltaic: turning solar energy directly into electricity Applications 1. Passive solar ideas have been implemented all over Nova Scotia. Solar Nova Scotia has long championed these ideas by helping Nova Scotians design and build efficient south facing homes. Basic steps like this to capture all the passive solar available cost a fraction to heat compared with conventional construction and don't cost a penny more to build. 2. Solar thermal energy is a very efficient and cost effective method of harnessing energy from the sun. Solar thermal can be used to provide domestic hot water for residential consumption, provide space heating through in-floor systems, or preheat water for use in boilers for heating. It can also be very useful in targeted applications such as swimming pools or laundry facilities. A great feature about solar thermal is that one of the world's leading producers of solar thermal equipment, Thermodynamics Incorporated is located in Dartmouth NS. They have built a manufacturing facility in Burnside which is heated using their own products. 3. Photovoltaic systems turn the sun's energy directly into electricity and can be scaled to fit any application ranging from powering a calculator to power plants producing hundreds of MegaWatts of electricity. Efficient and Stable Costs The traditional perception of solar energy is that it is a high cost energy source. However, this stereotype really only applies to solar photovoltaic, and even its costs are falling dramatically. It is no more expensive to build a passive solar home than it is a conventional home. It simply requires advance planning. Solar thermal systems are very cost effective. The average system pays for itself in approximately 5 years. With this kind of efficiency and displacement of dependence on fossil fuels, solar thermal systems should be standard on all new homes. Both provincial and federal governments have realized the effectiveness of solar thermal systems by including them in their most recent Eco-Energy renovation program ( ecoEnergy for Renewable Heat ). Commercial solar photovoltaic is still more expensive than other sources of renewable energy and existing sources of fossil fuels. In places like Ontario and Germany, utilities are mandated to offer inflated tariffs in the 40-50cent/kWh range to encourage growth of the solar photovoltaic industry. Although this price seems high, these incentives have created a booming solar industry in those jurisdictions, and new technologies are being developed every year that continually lower costs and increase efficiencies. Rich Resource Potential Nova Scotians usually have no problem understanding that we have a great wind resource.

Products & services

Similar companies nearby