Solar Power in Minnesota

by Keith Griffin.
Last Updated by Keith Griffin.

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Electricity – Heat- Hot Water

Energy from the sun can be used for to generate electricity as well to heat buildings and water. Solar power has the advantages of being produced locally from an unlimited source (sunshine) with very little pollution.

Solar technology

Solar technology harnesses the power of the sun by collecting sunlight using solar panels and converting that energy into usable electricity through photovoltaic or PV cells.

Photovotaic (PV) cells and solar panels

PV cells are basically semiconductors coated with a film of silicone are used to collect sunlight and convert it into usable energy. A large scale system has multiple solar panels with PV cells to collect the sun’s energy.

Uses of Electricity: Residential, commercial, and utility-scale

Individual home owners or building owners can also install solar panels to generate their own electricity. With “net metering,” excess power is then sold back to the utility company. This assumes that the PV system is connected to the power grid.

Solar power is particularly helpful in managing peak time demands for electricity. The average homeowner uses the most power in the mornings and evenings, yet the most solar power is generated between noon and 6pm. This is peak time for power companies due to commercial demand.

Large scale solar arrays are beginning to be used in California and Arizona. These systems generate hundreds of thousands of kilowatt hours of power each year.

Heating

Active solar heating systems collect by solar panels can also be transferred directly to interiors or storage systems in the form of heat. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these systems can provide 40%–80% of the home's heating needs.

Passive solar power designs are being built into new houses and commercial buildings. Interiors are being designed to produce solar lighting as well as solar heating & cooling systems. Skylights and light tubes reduce the need for electrical lighting. Solar panels and high-efficiency ventilation system s are used for controlling internal temperatures.

Hot water

It takes two or three solar panels, a water tank, and southern exposure to provide enough hot water for most single family homes. Some states like Hawaii are mandating that new homes be built with solar water heaters.