Solar energy a viable power option
TO help people cope with the challenges in the energy sector, various measures have been put in place. One of them is solar energy. Solar energy is the best power alternative because it is tapped from a natural resource — the sun.
By Agnes Kyotalengerire
TO help people cope with the challenges in the energy sector, various measures have been put in place. One of them is solar energy. Solar energy is the best power alternative because it is tapped from a natural resource — the sun.
How does it work?
Solar energy is tapped from the sun and turned into direct current needed for solar devices.
Solar energy runs a wide range of appliances such as bulbs, water heaters, vaccine fridges, televisions and radios.
Buying solar devices?
Abraham Gobera, a marketing technician at Cafex Solar Systems on Bombo Road, says: “One should first know the number of appliances and their voltage before buying a solar panel because the load determines the capacity of the panel you need.†Capacities of panels range from five to 300 watts.
Gobera says a home with seven bulbs, a radio and a television can use a panel of 55 watts, which costs sh450,000 at Ssebagala Electrical Centre.
Those with 10 bulbs, a radio, a television would require a panel of 75 watts and such a panel costs sh650,000 and uses a solar battery.
When using solar lanterns, one does not need to buy a panel, a regulator and a battery because the lantern comes with its own panel and an in-built battery and a regulator.
The price of solar lanterns ranges from sh60,000 to sh120,000.
There are also solar water heaters. Heaters of a capacity of 150 litres cost sh2.5m.
Among the solar gadgets, there are also solar fridges. These come with panels, batteries and regulators. Vaccine fridges cost from sh7m.
Farouk Kaddu, a salesman at Ssebagala and Sons Electro Centre says: “One needs an inverter in order to use electrical gadgets with solar energy.â€
Kaddu recommends that people buy crystalline panels because their output is reliable.
David Wabala, a technician at Master Electronics on Bombo Road, says: “It is cheap to use solar energy because it requires no running costs.â€
If there is no sun for about two days, the batteries have a back-up provision.
TO help people cope with the challenges in the energy sector, various measures have been put in place. One of them is solar energy. Solar energy is the best power alternative because it is tapped from a natural resource — the sun.
How does it work?
Solar energy is tapped from the sun and turned into direct current needed for solar devices.
Solar energy runs a wide range of appliances such as bulbs, water heaters, vaccine fridges, televisions and radios.
Buying solar devices?
Abraham Gobera, a marketing technician at Cafex Solar Systems on Bombo Road, says: “One should first know the number of appliances and their voltage before buying a solar panel because the load determines the capacity of the panel you need.†Capacities of panels range from five to 300 watts.
Gobera says a home with seven bulbs, a radio and a television can use a panel of 55 watts, which costs sh450,000 at Ssebagala Electrical Centre.
Those with 10 bulbs, a radio, a television would require a panel of 75 watts and such a panel costs sh650,000 and uses a solar battery.
When using solar lanterns, one does not need to buy a panel, a regulator and a battery because the lantern comes with its own panel and an in-built battery and a regulator.
The price of solar lanterns ranges from sh60,000 to sh120,000.
There are also solar water heaters. Heaters of a capacity of 150 litres cost sh2.5m.
Among the solar gadgets, there are also solar fridges. These come with panels, batteries and regulators. Vaccine fridges cost from sh7m.
Farouk Kaddu, a salesman at Ssebagala and Sons Electro Centre says: “One needs an inverter in order to use electrical gadgets with solar energy.â€
Kaddu recommends that people buy crystalline panels because their output is reliable.
David Wabala, a technician at Master Electronics on Bombo Road, says: “It is cheap to use solar energy because it requires no running costs.â€
If there is no sun for about two days, the batteries have a back-up provision.