Photovoltaics

Photovoltaics has been Flaenergy's specialty since being formed in 1986. Henry Healey, our president, has been a leader in the photovoltaic field since the 1970's. As director of the photovoltaic program for the Tennessee Valley Authority, he was responsible for the implementation of a wide variety of stand- alone and utility-interactive photovoltaic (PV) projects.

Flaenergy can provide you with photovoltaic systems designed to meet your specific requirements. We have designed PV homes, lighting, pumping, communications systems as well as emergency back-up systems for gates, lights and signs designed to continue operating when utility power is interrupted.

Read on to learn more about PV.


The conversion of the sun's energy directly to electricity using photovoltaics or "PV" is a relatively new application of solar energy. While many people think of PV as technology used only by NASA or on consumer products such calculators and watches, most of today's photovoltaic systems are used for remote power applications that require a small reliable power source.

Today photovoltaic systems are powering individual buildings including small vacation cottages, remote homes and commercial facilities where there is no connection to the utility grid. Additionally PV systems are powering applications outside buildings including: remote area lighting for parking areas, jogging trails and walkways; water pumping; data collection; radio and microwave repeater stations, and warning and obstruction lights for buoys and offshore structures.

Buildings located away from the utility grids no longer must sacrifice modern electrical appliances and associated comforts or tolerate the constant drone of an electric generating system. Solar electric power can silently provide all the energy required to provide modern conveniences. Photovoltaic however are not limited to remote areas.

Regardless of application, the basic operation is the same. Sunlight is converted directly to electricity for immediate use, or is stored in batteries for later use. PV power has great potential for widespread use for several reasons. Photovoltaics is highly modular, extremely reliable and environmentally benign, it works the same way in small or large applications. Photovoltaics has a flexibility that allows users to start small and expand gradually. PV power supplies have no moving parts and accomplish its sunlight-to-electricity conversion entirely with solid-state electronic components. This type of operation results in reliable equipment and low maintenance costs.

A typical photovoltaic power system includes the PV panels or modules, a battery system and a charge controller. A system designed to power alternating current (AC) devices or equipment uses an inverter to convert the DC energy produced by the photovoltaic system to the AC current use by most household appliances.

PV Power Applications

Lighting

  • Billboards and highway signs
  • Security lighting
  • Parking lots and marinas
  • Residential lighting

Communications

  • Radio communications
  • Telephones
  • Emergency call boxes

Cathodic protection

  • Pipelines
  • Bridges, buildings
  • Wharves, docks, marinas

Electricity for remote locations

  • Residences
  • Visitor centers
  • Remote research facilities

Battery charging for vehicles

  • Vehicles
  • Boats
  • RV's

Warning signs

  • Navigational beacons
  • Highway warning signs
  • Aircraft warning beacons

Water pumping

  • Irrigation, pond aeration
  • Watering stock
  • Domestic use and campgrounds

Restroom Facilities

  • Highway rest stops
  • Outdoor recreation parks
  • Public campgrounds

Emergency power source

  • Hospitals
  • Disaster relief
  • Emergency Lights

 

The uses of photovoltaic systems are limited only by the imagination. In addition to providing electric power in inside buildings, PV systems are used cost effectively for lighting walkways, security areas and similar. Lighting applications away from existing utility lines by eliminating the need to extend electrical wiring to the area. A parking lot away from a building can be lit for convenience and safety with PV powered lights. Photovoltaic lighting and call boxes can be installed cost effectively on paths, walkways and jogging trails in places where electric wiring would be to expensive to install.

If you have an application where you want to consider photovoltaics, email a short note to us and tell us what you need. We have been developing a wide variety of specialized applications for island homes, systems to operate gates for communities or single residences, solar powered signs, solar powered aeration, pumping, communications, etc. - you name it, we do it.

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