Solar energy is the power of the future, not least because it’s the greenest and least eco-harmful of all power sources yet available.
By the 22nd century, NASA and those of the same ilk will have positioned in terrestrial orbit huge space reflectors to capture the power of the sun, which will virtually dispense with the need for nuclear or conventional power stations.
It is reliably estimated that 1,894 space solar power (SSP) platforms, generating 5GW each, will be able to provide 47.2 per cent of total terrestrial power needs and although the Earth intercepts only a miniscule two-billionths of the sun’s total radiant output, this is the equivalent of 35,000 times the total energy used by all the people on the planet.
Shining directly overhead, the sun pours down 1GW on each kilometre of the Earth’s surface.
The applications of solar power are legion, apart from the solar panels to heat water and those with photo-voltaic (PV) cells (which charge mega-batteries or feed the electrical system directly for subsequent electrical usage), there are a myriad uses to which the sun’s power can be put. One such is for heating swimming pools, or vehicles can have solar collectors on their roofs; very useful for tractors, which will need no petrol, oil changes, air filters, or spark plugs, if your adopted family needs to plough their rice paddy.
You might also like the idea of a solar-heated greenhouse, or maybe you want to install a solar collector on your lawn mower. Perhaps you’re plagued with moles in your lawn; then a solar-powered mole-repeller is the perfect answer.
There are garden ornaments, fountains and lights which are all solar-powered (see TGS and Northern Thai articles in previous issues).
Girlfriend keeps misplacing her mobile phone’s battery charger? Plug it into the collector outside, instead. Countries like Saudi Arabia already have solar-powered roadside emergency telephones; others have solar-powered LED street lighting.
Need a solar-powered watch? No problem, they’re available (see picture). Boats and even planes can be solar-powered.
You can even get solar-powered aromatherapy diffusers should you fancy a pleasant scent. Solar showers are also practicable, but hardly necessary, in Thailand.
As we say, the applications are legion; limited only by your imagination.
There is currently a worldwide urgency, because of global warming and climate change, to find as many viable ‘green’ energy sources as possible and going solar most definitely fits the bill. Many countries, including Thailand, offer substantial subsidies (available here via local dealers, like TGS) because of the extremely high cost of installation, especially of PV cells.
However, there are a plethora of DIY websites on the Internet whereby you can substantially reduce the cost, all you need is a modicum of practical ability, or employ a local workman and teach him using the articles, and/or available videos. Some of these DIY sites are listed at the end of this article, including the free, extremely comprehensive ‘solar-water-heating-heater-book’, which tells you how to build a working solar heater very cheaply, using recycled or cannibalised components, otherwise do a Google search for “DIY solar power systems”. As regards buying a ready-made DIY kit, be sure to ask the supplier, whether local or online, the following questions:
1 Will they help you determine the load of your home and size the solar power system to your home’s electrical needs?
2 Will they allow you to review the installation instructions before purchasing the solar power system?
3 Do they offer telephone technical support?
4 How long is the guarantee on the equipment?
5 Who do you contact for warranty work?
Now for the practical applications specific to Thailand, namely PV cells, solar water heater and solar-heated swimming pools for the cooler months...

Local suppliers
There are at least two suppliers of full installations locally, one of which is TGS – Technology Green Solutions, who can be reached at Saraan House, 49/13-15 M13, Sukhumvit Road, opposite Big C in South Pattaya. Their advert can be seen in this issue.
Suppliers of the full-installation products will obviously cost more than the DIY versions, but among
the advantages of going to
one are:
l you won’t have the headache and hassle of trying to cope with all the technical requirements;
l you don’t have to risk your neck if you are having a roof installation;
l you will be relieved of the sheer arduousness of the task;
l you will have a locally-available source for warranty problems or after-sales service.
Add the fact that the costs of such installations pay for themselves over time.
However, you do need to determine how long it will take to recoup the initial investment as you don’t want to move out of the house before you get your investment back.
But, no matter how long you stay, your electricity bills will be radically reduced and your house will go up in value!
The following rudimentary explanations are primarily for DIYers, however.
Photovoltaic (PV)
Solar Power
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels produce electricity, which can be used to run appliances and lighting and used to charge batteries or fed into the national grid, when the facilities here become available.
A PV system is considerably greener than acquiring electricity from the national grid as it produces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of between 0.01 and 0.1 kg. compared to 0.4 to 0.5 kg CO2 per kWh from gas-fired power stations, and 0.8 to 1.4 kg CO2 per kWh from coal-fired power stations (World Energy Council stats).
Before deciding on a PV system, you’ll need to evaluate certain factors such as cost, efficiency and lifetime. Solar PV is more expensive than a wind turbine of a similar power output, (output from a typical 2kW PV roof installation will generate approximately 1500kWh), but good wind sites are much rarer than good solar sites, especially in Thailand, and a turbine will need considerably more on-going maintenance than a solar roof; one solution, though, is to combine both.
A PV system is also more financially attractive if you are considering either substantial renovation work, or building a new house, as the panels can be used instead of roof tiles, and many associated costs (like scaffolding) will be incurred when roofing anyway.
There are several different types of PV panel available, varying according to cost, efficiency and lifetime; bearing in mind that cheaper ones probably have a shorter lifetime. Most PV panels are crystalline silicon, as this has tended to give the most reliable and efficient panels, but new technology and continuing development may well soon produce new materials that are cheaper and have superior output.
Ideally, solar panels should be mounted in an array covering an area of between 8-20 sqm in direct sunlight. They should be south-facing and free of shade at an angle of between 20 and 50 degrees. Rooftop panels are the most common, but they can also be installed on the ground, in which case they can be made to move to track the sun path.
The advice given to the Ancient Greeks by Socrates still applies (taking into consideration the same seasons don’t actually occur in Thailand!): “In houses that look toward the south, the sun penetrates the portico in winter, while in summer the path of the sun is right over our heads, and above the roof, so that there is shade.”
Cost-wise, when buying over the Internet from abroad, remember you have to factor in transportation, import duty and variable exchange rates. Most US sites advertise for their home market, so expect to pay more! You can buy solar panel kits for less than US$50, which usually include solid plywood backboard, copper wiring and glass windows; plus another US$150 for additional materials and, of course the solar cells, themselves, which you can buy on Ebay, for example.
The additional materials you will need are copper sheeting, two alligator copper clip leads, an electric stove, wide-mouth plastic container, a multi-meter, and simple accessories like scissors, sand paper, salt, and water. Individual solar panels will thus cost US$200, and a complete system about US$2,000. Though you will also need an inverter and controller.
Once installed, ongoing maintenance includes:
l cleaning your solar panels weekly, otherwise their efficiency will suffer;
l regularly adjusting your solar panels according to seasonal sun position changes;
l auditing your home’s energy use; by monitoring where you use most energy, you can make simple efficiency changes throughout your home, like buying energy-efficient lightbulbs and insulation, to maximize your savings.
And don’t forget to wear a safety roof-harness!
As for the batteries, check out www.earth4energy.com where they tell you how to get free ones, if you buy their kit.
Solar water heating
The solar collectors, or panels, used for solar water heating are the same as those used with PV, except, instead of the cells, they contain piped water. There are two main types of commercial solar water heating panel available – flat-plate and evacuated tubes. Although evacuated tubes are more efficient, they also cost more. However, you can compensate for the lower efficiency of flat-plate collectors by installing a larger surface area.
The collector is once again secured to a roof of a building, or can be mounted on a wall facing the sun. One of the simplest systems, the ‘direct’ system works by using natural convection, or pumping cold water out to the collector to be heated and then the heated water flows back to a collection tank, however this is unsuitable for areas with very hard water, like most of that available in Thailand, unless you have a water filter.
In the other ‘indirect’ system, water, once hot, goes from the panels to a coil in the hot water cylinder and transfers its heat to the water there.
You can add solar panels to most existing hot water systems, though you will usually have to add an additional ‘pre-heat’ water cylinder or change your existing one to a twin-coil cylinder.
You may need a pump to circulate the water, and some regulating equipment to prevent overheating. You will also need a knowledge of plumbing!
Solar water heating panels should provide most of the hot water needs of an average household. A properly installed, commercially bought solar water heating system should pay for itself within its lifetime. DIY systems can be bought for as little as US$50+, or you can build and install your own DIY solar panels using old radiators or aluminium clip fins on copper pipes.

Solar swimming
pool heating
You will require:
l a length of black hosepipe, which should be big enough to cover half your pool’s surface area;
l a pump;
l wood, glass or clear perspex sheet and black paint.
First, make a box that your glass panel will comfortably and safely sit on. Next, paint the inside of the box black, to help increase the internal temperature. Then lay out your hosepipe in the box in coils. After that, enclose the box with either glass or a clear perspex sheet. Next, attach one end to your pump, which should be placed in the pool, the other end returning via the box into the pool. You might have to adjust the water flow rate, to achieve the maximum heating of the water going through it.
As you can see, DIY isn’t exactly simple and requires considerable skill. You may well decide going to the experts is the best solution, and although it will cost more, there’s a far better chance of achieving a practical result and you won’t have to venture up onto the roof for the first two applications!
If, on the other hand, you’re not put off by the complexity, surf the web – and best of luck. Ω