For billions of years, the Sun has provided energy to our solar system. The use of the Sun as a source of energy is as old as mankind itself. It helps to grow food for warmth, fire, and other purposes on several continents. With the passage of time and technological advancements, however, we have been able to capture the Sun’s immense potential in the form of photovoltaic cells and use it for much greater purposes.
Compared to other conventional sources, the Sun’s rays can now be converted into electricity and used to power our homes and appliances with a fraction of the environmental impact. This serves as a major driver for the growth of solar power in this era of sustainability. What began as a niche use of this concept has now evolved into a large solar implementation.
Solar air conditioners are one application of this renewable energy source in air conditioning.
The majority of people nowadays have air conditioning in their houses. However, traditional air conditioners would increase your electricity bills and harm the environment.
Also, running one or a few units can be costly. Therefore, installing a solar-powered air conditioner at your home will provide you with numerous financial and environmental benefits.
What is a Solar Powered Air Conditioner?
A solar air conditioner is also known as a solar air conditioner, a solar-powered air conditioner, or a hybrid solar air conditioner. These air conditioners are fueled by solar energy generated by solar panels rather than grid electricity.
Solar air conditioners work similarly to traditional air conditioners, except they have more power options. A traditional air conditioner is solely powered by grid energy, whereas solar air conditioners have three power options: solar power, solar battery bank, and grid electricity.
Solar air conditioners are becoming more and more popular. They are intelligent air conditioners with a 5-star rating to help you save money on utilities while also lowering your carbon footprint.
Effectiveness of Solar Powered Air Conditioners
It may come as a surprise that solar-powered air conditioning systems are just as effective as conventional air conditioning systems.
A solar air conditioning system is just as good at cooling an indoor space as an electric-powered system as long as you have enough sunlight (which is usually the case since the system is only likely to be used on a hot, sunny day anyway).
Solar air conditioner systems use a battery array for power in the unlikely event that you need to switch on the air conditioning on a cloudy day. On a hot day, the excess energy collected by the solar panels is used to charge the batteries in this array.
There are few different options available, even with solar-powered air conditioners. These are different based on the power mode of the air conditioner, which includes:
-
DC Powered Solar Air Conditioners
DC solar air conditioners, also known as conventional solar-powered air conditioners, run on direct current (DC) electricity, which means the solar panels are directly connected to it. They can run totally off-grid since they are powered by batteries that are charged by solar. Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic panels, are used to absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. The following are some of the primary benefits of this type of air conditioner:
- Running an air conditioner directly from a solar panel will not be a problem because solar panels produce DC electricity.
- DC-powered solar air conditioners prefer total off-the-grid living because they require less extra equipment than AC-powered air conditioners.
- They are simple to set up and maintain.
-
AC Powered Solar Air Conditioners
The more well-known solar air conditioner is alternating current. A device known as an inverter is necessary to run AC air conditioners with solar power, turning the DC from the solar panels into AC.
In such a setup, the inverter is a core part. Furthermore, after passing through the inverter, the solar-powered air conditioner uses the energy stored in the battery. As a result, solar air conditioners run by AC offer the following benefits:
- These air conditioners can also be connected to the power grid and used as standard air conditioners. In addition, this air conditioner can run on AC power; thus, no additional equipment is necessary.
- The main benefit of such a system is that both grid power and solar panels may run it.
- If your air conditioners are connected to the grid, you can use a technique called net metering to give any extra electricity back to the grid and get credits.
-
Hybrid Powered Solar Air Conditioners
Solar-powered air conditioners that are hybrids can run on both DC and AC at the same time. Therefore, these units can be directly connected to solar panels/batteries and the grid simultaneously. Then, the unit can use the appropriate power source depending on the time of day and the power load.
- There is no need for additional equipment, such as an inverter, resulting in lower overall costs.
- They can effortlessly switch between solar and grid power.
- They can work at all hours of the day and in all seasons.
Solar Air Conditioning’s Advantages
solar-powered air conditioners offer several benefits:
- Increases the value of a property
- To make up for the initial costs, saves on bills.
- With Peak load shifting it lowers total energy demand.
- Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.
How Does a Solar AC Work?
A solar air conditioner includes solar power and air conditioning. Simply said, it takes solar energy and uses it to run your air conditioner to cool your room!
Solar panel captures the power of the Sun. It converts solar energy into electrical energy. This energy can be used right away or stored in a battery. This is referred to as DC power. A solar-powered air conditioner then uses the DC power to heat or cool your home, either directly or after conversion to AC (through an inverter).
Furthermore, rather than relying on grid power, a solar-powered air conditioner uses the Sun’s energy. It can, however, use grid energy if necessary. This can be done by making modifications to the air conditioner.
How Many Solar Panels to Run an Air Conditioner?
The capacity of your air conditioner determines it. Typically, 1500Watt Solar Panels are required for 1 Ton AC. For example, a 1 Ton air conditioner run by 250-watt panels would require 1500 watt or 250watt six panels.
2500 watt (250 watt 10 no’s) or equivalent wattage is required for a 1.5 ton air conditioner.
How many air conditioners can a 3kw run?
On a 3kW solar system, you can run a single air conditioner; but, if you connect another air conditioner, the system will cause overload, which is not permissible.
Savings with a Solar AC system
Several factors will determine the total amount you will save.
The solar panels ‘ number, size, and energy-capturing capacities determine the proportion of an air conditioning system’s energy use met by solar power. A grid connection is still present in a hybrid solar system.
Second, the battery array’s size and carrying capacity are critical. Battery technology has advanced significantly in recent years and continues to do so. In simple terms, the more solar energy your battery can store, the more it may be used to supplement the energy demands of your air conditioning system.
Third, how much you use the air conditioner directly impacts how much money you can save. In hotter climates, you will need a system that can run for more extended periods. These requirements, however, should be partly offset by the increased amount of sunlight that may be harvested. Therefore, a hybrid solar system may not be required.
Final Thoughts on Solar Powered Air Conditioner
Overall, solar power will have to provide at least half of the energy needed to run your air conditioning system. You may not need to use electricity from the grid at all if your system has more panels and a larger battery.
A large number of people are opting to adapt their homes to make them as energy-efficient as possible. However, if cooling your home consumes a significant portion of your domestic energy, you should consider installing a solar-powered air conditioner. A system like this will save you money on your electricity bill and eventually pay for itself.
