Just Google or Wikipedia "solar cells" and "solar energy."

However, even more interesting would be to see a home built using traditional desert technology. For example, the long, underground qunat containing water and the walls packed with sawdust and ice (harvested during winter). The qunat leads towards the house, and usually terminates in a fountain. Air is pulled down the qunat, toward the house, and cooled. The air pulling action is accomplished by the shape of the houses roof, which is a dome with a hole - the dome acts like an airfoil to draw air in. To top it off, double walled construction in the house with a foot or two between the walls and iron spikes sticking out to pull additional heat from the building.

This is essentially a wind-powered home, but the technology has been working for hundreds of years!

GA my Verminous friend... technology with no/few moving parts my fave...
Del

The funny thing is that Scientific American covered the whole subject of desert dwellings such as these in a very extensive article (complete with plans) about 20 years ago! So, like, what happened?

a) It's not New shiny technology...
b) No big multinationals will make any money out of it.
If had the land (and my youth) I'd love to build myself a 'green' house.
Del

OK. Maybe put out one solar panel on the roof to run the TV... BUT NOTHING ELSE!!!

Dear Al-Khulaqi,

Please refer to my favorite source of solar supplies and information. www.backwoodssolar.com They also sell kits, and how you would go about finding out what to buy is by first finding out how much total wattage you will want to run at any given time. Then you can look at the kits and choose one that will fit your needs.

I use solar (with battery bank and invertor) for 100% of my energy on my home in northern Washington state. I hope this helps you.

Matt,

Thank you very much for your advice as you know that this kind of power it is available in our hand but not one from our country tried to utilized it since they need the easier and common way to produce the electricity power but I think if they start to produce this type of power from solar energy at the beginning they will face a difficulties as well as the initial cost it will be high but for the long term they will gain experience in this type of power generation as well as the maintenance cost will be lower comparing with the other types of power generation like steam power plant or diesel power plant ........

Best Regards,

Hi,

The main reason for delay in sourcing solar energy in developing countries is the huge initial cost of photo cells and battery for storing. If there is an arrangement like the one available in US, it is much easier to go for solar energy source for individual house owners. The arrangement is that, the power suppliers are investing in the major portion of the initial cost and they allow the resident to use and excess production they buy from the house owner and adjust against the initial investment.

The storing of the solar energy in batteries is a costly option and the life of the battery is low and needs regular maintenance and replacement. So there is few takers.The other option is to conserve the heat and use for running generators. This is widely used in large solar power generating station. For this it needs large uncultivated open land which needs high investments. Deserts are most suitable. In US States of California and Arizona generate solar energy with high yield greater quantity. If world Bank can provide sufficient funds developing countries with availability of large solar energy can produce their power requirement with the present available technology. It can reduce CO2 emission .

As for individual houses it will become possible if low cost solar cells and low cost batteries are developed. As for solar cells lot of research is going on . Presently if we can afford ( for initial investment)technology is available in net and many examples are available in google search and u tube. As for example see the link below.

http://www.builditsolar.com/

I am not sure which part of world you are coming on the site. There are two ways you can do

1. Buy indual modules and they have full installation instruction. To convert house to full solar you need to know how many KW you need to run you home with max and average value.

2. Other that is in my case buy solar cell and solder ribbon and create modules of desired sizes based on your home and your need.

3. In either case if you need help I can connect you to Tata - BP solar and they will be able to help you out with your goal. You can also contact them they are in Bangalore India and have full manufacturing facilities

4. There are other small out fits which makes modules

5. Making modules are not big thing. If you have space and capital you can help others by starting this business to generate power since solar cells and other materials to fabricate modules and other commponents are avaiable in market and it is just putting things together

6. This will be very good business and will make independent of pole and wire since power is generated at use source like mobile phone which took all of us out of big line to get telephone and telephone connection.

If you live in an environment where dust storms are prevalent you must take measures to protect the solar panels (I assume they are to be electrical).

In the event of lightning, grounding depth must be determined by the amount of iron in either the soils or bedrock you happen to be living on. Installing current breakers is a good idea but it's best to have a wiring system that can be easily disconnected and separated away from the grounding cable in case lightning causes an arc to occur.

Contact TATA BP Solar , they will provide you a good idea.

Uni-solar modules perform better in hot climates compared to framed mono or poly crystyline modules. Since you state you live in a hot desert climate. One note about thin film unisolar is it is half the efficiency of monocrystyline modules so you will need more sq ft of module to accomplish your Kw output needs. You can find all the details you need from their website.

Monocrystalline is not for desert area and its non economical based on area, cost and labor time was never worth. Cell of monocrystalline is costly.

BPTATA is made with cheaper labor. Tata is known for its quality from day one irrespective of steel or car or truck or any other items they make. I have used Tata solar and is good for Rajesthan which is desert and if he comes from desert then it is proven supplier.

I live in USA and am citizen of US but was invoved from day one in solar and still try to keep up to it and is the reason I can say this