http://Luxraysolarpower.com/ Luxray Solar Power - Blog RSS Feed 2.0 en-us Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:51:23 GMT Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:51:23 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9924/Cloud-Cover---Solar-Protection blog Contrary to popular belief, clouds do not block solar panels from the sun. In fact, clouds can magnify the solar radiation received by panels and increase energy output! We are going to take a look at how the diffusion of sunlight through the clouds can lead to higher energy production. Did you know the amount of solar energy that hits the earth in an hour and a half, if all captured and transformed into energy, could power the total energy consumption on the planet for a year? While our technologies don't span across the entire globe and cannot take in all of this solar radiation, it is still pretty incredible. Let's look at how our solar arrays in place can absorb sunlight even on a cloudy day. As clouds form and hang in the sky, they impact solar radiation. The type of cloud as well as where they lie in the atmosphere impacts how much solar radiation is allowed through as well as reflected back at the earth's surface.  High Clouds These are more beneficial for solar energy production. Characterized as cooler and higher in the air column, high clouds reflect less solar radiation, however, also trap solar heat near the earth's surface. This type of cloud is beneficial for solar energy production however, they also play a role in the warming of our planet. Though they are much thinner than low clouds, due to the temperature and how water freezes in cloud form they act as an insulator for our planet. Low Clouds  In contrast, low clouds decrease solar production. They rest lower in the air column and reflect more solar radiation back towards space. Low clouds have little impact on the thermal energy emitted to the earth's surface due to similarity in temperature of the clouds. Curious as to how much solar radiation will reach your panels or targeted area? Consult the National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB) for radiation data from years past and current. This tool can illustrate where solar energy might be beneficial for you, your home, and/or business. Thanks to Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites or GOES, we are able to track cloud cover over our globe. Here in the US GOES-16 and -17 are what we primarily look at to track clouds over the Western portion of our country. Providing short term predictions of cloud cover and shadows which travel over solar arrays, we can get an understanding of how much an array will produce. This has been a brief look at clouds and their impact on solar energy. If you would like to set up an array on your property or business we here at LuxRay Solar are here to help. Reach out to us today for a consultation and to get on your way to cleaner energy.   Thu, 11 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9924/Cloud-Cover---Solar-Protection http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9925/What-is-the-NABCEP blog There are so many acronyms, sometimes it is hard to keep track. NABCEP stands for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners by which Luxray Solar is proudly certified! A leading, well-established, and widely recognized organization, NABCEP provides classes to renewable energy enthusiasts. These courses result in certification and credentials for skilled professionals in the renewable energy sector primarily in solar pv, solar heating, and small wind technologies. The professionals here at Luxray Solar have taken courses and received certification to ensure an understanding of renewable energy installation and practices. NABCEP certification provides a uniform perspective central to the development of renewable energy in the Thorton, Denver, and surrounding area. Our business promotes similar ideas as NABCEP. With the mission of raising standards and promoting confidence in renewable industries, NABCEP has helped educate and develop many renewable energy professionals in the field. We here at Luxray Solar believe in the importance of both exceptional customer service and sound education regarding our solar installations. Whether you are a residential owner, business owner, or in charge of an industrial size site, our approach to solar energy is the same. We strive to offer the highest quality of work while ensuring complete understanding of the systems we install and how they will benefit you.  Interested in learning more about our organization, certifications, and installations? Visit our site today to schedule an appointment or simply to look through all we have to offer. Thu, 11 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9925/What-is-the-NABCEP http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9628/Understanding-the-efficiency-and-strength-of-solar-cells-pt-1 blog The strength of a solar grid is determined by the efficiency and quantity of its solar cells. The more cells attached the higher the solar intake! As far as efficiency, different solar technologies utilize different types of semiconductors. We are going to focus on the top few in this two or three part study. Silicon cells, thin-film photovoltaics, and perovskite photovoltaics are what we will be analyzing and today we will pick apart Silicon and crystalline silicon cells. Silicon cells were the first solar cells invented by Bell Labs and in 1954 the first practical solar cell was created. The development of solar technology has a long history spanning back as early as the second century BC. This was when the first use of the sun was recorded, burning ants by magnifying glass. Since then, the development of solar cell technology took off in 1883 leading to the invention of the silicon cell in 1954. As they have been around the longest, it isn't surprising that silicon cells make up about 95% of all solar cells purchased as of 2015. Silicon is also the second most abundant resource on earth behind oxygen and so make for an incredible and cheap semi conductor. With silicon cells they can be made in a couple of ways, first you have your traditional silicon cell and then also a crystalline silicon cell. The former is the cheapest option however, the latter has increased efficiency. Crystalline silicon is identified by its crystal lattice structure. The silicon atoms are organized in a manner which promotes the most efficient conversion of light to energy. While being cost effective and producing high levels of energy, these cells also have life spans of more than 20 years. It is not hard to see why the majority of solar cells purchased are silicon. Low cost, efficient, and abundantly available makes for a great business model. While silicon cells are incredible, there are other semiconductors with different perks. Next week we will take a look at what those might be. Until then... If you are considering solar for your home or business, we are here to help! Capturing the sun's energy is the name of the game and we here at LuxRay Solar play hard. In the business of PV installation and maintenance we are your local solar authority and want to help you go solar today! Reach out to us here for a consultation or quote! Thu, 02 Jun 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9628/Understanding-the-efficiency-and-strength-of-solar-cells-pt-1 http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9602/America-s-energy-consumption-and-production-over-the-past-50-years blog We are going to take a brief look at America's energy production and consumption over the past 50 years. A few things to note. There are five energy-use sectors. These are the sectors the US Energy Information Administration uses when calculating our nation's total energy consumption. The five sectors are electric power, transportation, industrial, residential, and commercial. For the purpose of this post we will be looking at the energy that is produced and consumed by these sectors such as coal, natural gas, nuclear, renewables, and petroleum.  Consumption numbers for natural gas plant liquids (NGPL) were not available and so no comparison can be made. Along the same lines petroleum consumption and crude oil production cannot be compared to one another. Below we will focus on the change of coal usage over the past 50 years as well as nuclear and renewables.  Beginning analysis in 1980, coal production was higher than consumption by 3.18 quadrillion British thermal units (quad Btus). Renewable energies equaled net zero in both 1980 and 1990 at 5.43 quad Btu's and 6.04 quad Btu's produced and consumed respectively. Coal usage and production continue to increase through 2000 and 2010 with renewables following suit. However, in 2020 we see a significant reduction of coal consumption and production. Only 9.18 quad Btus were consumed in 2020 which is a decrease of more than half what was consumed only 10 years earlier. Renewable energies have steadily increased over the past 50 years and are currently being produced and consumed at their highest amounts. It is encouraging to see the increase in renewable energy production as well as the decrease in non renewables. Solar is a smaller portion of renewable energy. One of our goals here at Luxray Solar is to continue to expand solar's impact and reach!  If you are interested in going solar for your home or business, reach out to us today! We also offer industrial scale installations and would love to bring another large scale project online. Whatever the inquiry, contact us here. Wed, 25 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9602/America-s-energy-consumption-and-production-over-the-past-50-years http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9566/Battery-storage-and-solar blog The sun might not always shine, but we can still use solar power! Thanks to advancements in battery storage technology, solar electricity can be generated and utilized at night and during storms as well as other periods without the sun. While this intermittent resource has been made more reliable with the help of batteries, there is still a long way to go.  Big battery technology   With the planet warming and consciousness rising, minimizing fossil fuel reliance is becoming of more importance. Using renewable energies is a great way to do this. The biggest issue with intermittent, renewable, resources is when they are not being generated, we must fall back on non renewables. In the recent past California has begun to make waves in the production and implementation of large battery storage facilities. A few projects to note are the installation of a 300-megawatt lithium-ion battery and 100-megawatt battery in the old Moss Landing Power Plant. Together these batteries can hold and expel enough electricity to power over 250,000 Californian homes for four hours during times with higher demand than available supply.  With facilities like these coming online, renewable energies have a bright future! Prices in battery storage dropped 70 percent from 2015 at $2,152 per kilowatt hour to $625 per kilowatt hour in 2018. Future projections show storage costs ranging around $400 and less per kWh! As battery storage prices decrease, renewable energies continue to become more accessible and reliable.   We here at Luxray Solar want to help you begin your renewable energy journey today. Offering a range of solar installation packages, we have got one that will suit your needs! Reach out to us today to learn more about what we can do for you! Tue, 17 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9566/Battery-storage-and-solar http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9520/Other-solar-technologies-for-your-home blog The sun is amazing, plain and simple. We here at Luxray Solar want to help you harness its incredible power to produce clean energy for your home. While solar PV installations are our area of expertise, we want to key you in on some other solar technologies! The sun's energy can not only electrify your home, but warm it also. This is just another incredible use of our most abundant renewable energy. Let's dive into some of these solar heating technologies! Most commonly used to heat floors in homes, liquid based solar technology is a great system to employ. Using flat plate technology non-toxic liquid is warmed and distributed throughout pipes beneath your floor. This is perfect for cold climates as the outside temperatures do not impact the system since it is inside. We lose most heat through our heads and feet. Heated floors reduce how much heat we lose keeping our body temperature higher and us feeling warmer. Other than warming our toes, solar energy can be used to heat the air in a room! Room air heaters are perfect for warming individual rooms in the home. With an air collector affixed to the roof or south facing wall, this technology uses the sun to heat air within the systems. This heated air is distributed throughout your home minimizing the strain on your furnace. As an addition to your existing HVAC system, room air heaters are a great addition to the home. Whether looking to electrify your home or heat it, the sun is here to help and so are we. Reach out to us today for a quote regarding your future PV system and take a look at what other solar energies can do for you and your home. Fri, 06 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9520/Other-solar-technologies-for-your-home http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9441/Industry-News--Floating-Solar blog Solar is exciting and the applications for solar energy are endless. In the Philippines, government officials have begun to look at deploying floating solar to better aid with irrigation. This technology can use space that would otherwise be useless beyond its original purpose. The irrigation authority in the Philippines (Philippines' National Irrigation Administration (NIA)), has previously invested in installing two solar pump systems covering more than 500 hectares in total. Construction requires less heavy machinery and has a smaller environmental impact than other renewable energies. These facilities will be maintenance free and have a lifespan of at least 25 years making them more desirable than conventional pumps using fossil fuels. Though upfront costs for these pumps are expensive, they are an investment in Filipino futures; benefitting 273 farmers across the island, solar energy is only a help to these communities. Given the success of their initial pumps the NIA has declared investment in 333 more solar pumps across the nation to benefit upwards of 8,500 farmers. What about the other projects? What is floating solar? Floating solar is not a new technology however, it will now be seen in some new places. Thanks to developments by the Philippines' NIA, new bodies of water may be available as locations for floating solar. So, what is it exactly? Floating solar uses standard PV cells mounted on platforms that float. These systems are very similar to what we install on rooftops and the like; however, they are more waterproof. In Norway, they are outfitting existing aquaculture infrastructure with floating PV membranes. These systems are more malleable and work with the existing structures in the water. More like a net spread across, they are resilient to waves and wind. This is only the beginning of floating solar's potential. Some benefits associated with floating solar include no land loss and more efficient systems. Increasing our ability to harness the sun's energy is a step towards a more sustainable future.  Building solar arrays onto bodies of water allows us to maximize energy production without taking away from land based activities. The water also allows the systems to cool themselves. As the efficiency of these systems decrease when they heat up too much, placing them in water is like a natural temperature regulator. Mostly large scale, these projects will provide for more than just a family or two. "Floating photovoltaic" is a new wave of solar technology, showing the industry's adaptability. An investment in this country's future, we look forward to seeing these technologies and where they go next! Interested in adding solar to your home or land? Reach out to us here at Luxray Solar and our team will help get you on your way! Wed, 27 Apr 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/9441/Industry-News--Floating-Solar http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/8774/Solar-for-your-home blog Days are getting longer and spring is right around the corner, think about going solar! Here at Luxray Solar we offer services to residential homeowners at an affordable price. If you have been considering making the switch, now is the time to do it. Solar is an incredible addition to your home for a multitude of reasons which we will explore as we illustrate what we can do for you! First things first, we will assess your property for its solar potential. Assessments include an in depth inspection of the overall spatial area, direction of your roof, and obstacles that may obstruct sunlight from reaching your future panels. If you would like to do a brief self assessment, look for the south facing facade and observe its structure and surroundings. If it seems somewhat clear, we will be able to offer our excerpt opinion upon arrival! You may schedule here for a quick conversation and quote! Moving forward post assessment and collaboration, we will design a layout for your solar system. If you are debating moving forward with the project, let us reassure you that now is truly the best time to. The Income Tax Credit that you can receive for installing a residential solar system will be reduced in 2023 to 22% and cease to exist come 2024. Currently you can receive 26%! When we have developed your design we will discuss the construction process and then the installation will begin! Upon completion, we think one of the coolest parts about solar is that the extra energy your system produces is fed into the grid. Bringing your home online not only benefits you, but your neighbors as well! Other homes use your excess energy which reduces how much the traditional utilities must provide using nonrenewable sources. Using the sun's energy reduces your environmental footprint along with others.  Solar is an investment in the long term. It is an energy that can save your wallet and our planet. We cannot help how much we love it! If you are looking to add your home to the solar network we would love to assist. Reach out to us today and we will help get you going on your solar journey. Tue, 12 Apr 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/8774/Solar-for-your-home http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/8714/A-brief-history-of-solar-in-the-states blog Solar technologies have existed as early as the 7th Century B.C.; the first recorded use was a magnifying glass. The glass concentrated solar rays making fire and burning ants, that was only the beginning. Humans continued discovering ways to harness the sun's energy. In the 2nd Century B.C., Greek scientist Archimedes used large bronze shields to reflect the sun at wooden Roman ships setting them ablaze. Fast forwarding a few thousand years, in 1839 French scientist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect which increased the world's understanding of solar energy potential. Many critical discoveries have been made between the B.C. times and our recent past allowing humans to develop and employ solar technologies at the scales we do today. While a lot of our initial understanding of the sun came from other countries and continents, it is here in the United States that solar energy as we know it was born. Here is a quick snapshot of our nation's solar power history. 1883-1903 It was in 1883 when the American Inventor Charles Fritts described the first solar cells made from selenium wafers and created the world's first rooftop solar array in New York City. Though not solar energy, in 1891 Clarence Kemp patented the first commercial solar water heater which increased our knowledge on how to harness the sun in different ways. 1904-1954 With existing knowledge of photovoltaic technology it was in 1905 that Albert Einstein published his paper on the photoelectric effect. His theory was later backed by experimental proof from Robert Millikan in 1916. It was just 38 years later, in 1954, that photovoltaic technology was born in the US. Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson developed a silicon PV cell at Bell Labs in New Jersey which was the first solar cell that could convert enough energy to run everyday equipment. Time continues. The next great achievement is to increase the efficiency of these cells! 1959-1999 In 1959 Hoffman Electronics achieved 10% PV cell efficiency and on August 7th the explorer VI satellite was launched by NASA with a PV array of 9,600 cells. Efficiency continued to improve and in 1964 NASA launched the Nimbus spacecraft, a satellite powered by a 470 watt PV array. It was in the '70s, with the help of the Exxon Corporation, that Dr Elliot Bergman designed a much less costly solar cell. It drastically decreased the price from $100 to $20 per watt. The University of Delaware established the Institute of Energy Conversion in 1972 making it the first laboratory in the world dedicated to PV research. In 1980 they developed the first thin-film solar cell that exceeds 10% efficiency. 1991 George Bush redesignates the US Department of Energy's Solar Energy Research Institute as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. A year later 15.9% thin-film PV cell efficiency was reached at the University of South Florida and by the end of the 20th Century, Spectrolan Inc. and National Energy Laboratory developed PV cells with 32.3 percent efficiency by 1999.  2000-Present Here in Colorado the largest residential solar installation took place in 2000. A family in Morrison installed a 12-kilowatt system to provide the most of the energy needed for their family of eight in their 6,000 square foot home. The appeal of residential solar has only grown since then. A couple more than 20 years later and our nation has enough installed solar arrays to power 12.3 million American homes.  But why stop there? If you are interested in solar, reach out to us! We here at Luxray want to outfit your home with the newest of solar technologies. Join us and millions of other Americans today in strengthening your energy independence. Thu, 24 Mar 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/8714/A-brief-history-of-solar-in-the-states http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/8512/What-exactly-is-solar-power- blog Sunlight is solar power's power source, but how exactly does solar energy work? Light coming from the sun is also known as solar radiation which is a form of electromagnetic radiation; this is what we are manipulating when creating solar power.  The amount of solar radiation that reaches the earth's surface is impacted by many things such as terrain, time of day, the season and local weather. Here in Denver, for example, we receive almost three times more solar energy during the summer than in the winter. So, how exactly are we using solar radiation to create energy for our homes and businesses? We convert solar radiation (sunlight) into energy two ways primarily, solar PV and CSP. Solar PV stands for solar photovoltaics while CSP is an acronym for concentrating solar-thermal power. Here at LuxRay Solar, all of our installations are solar PV and we pride ourselves on outfitting from residential to industrial scale here in the Denver-metro area.  Solar PV Every time you see solar panels you are looking at solar photovoltaic technology. Made up of a bunch of individual cells, it is within these cells that the energy is created. Solar cells are coated in a semiconductor material which interacts with photons that pass through. Photons are particles that carry electromagnetic force and are what we see as light. As the photons pass through the cell they lose electrons which create an electric current. This electric current is what we harness and use as energy! One side of the cell is positive and the other negative which allows the loose electrons to flow and create the electrical current that is harnessed by wires that connect to each side. How much electricity that can be generated is dependent upon the number of cells within a panel and the number of panels in the solar array. Solar PV is more common because it requires no fossil fuels or water and can be positioned just about anywhere there is enough sun. Concentrated solar-thermal Instead of using the sunlight directly, in CSP, sunlight is converted to thermal energy which can be used and stored in many ways. There are a couple different CSP technologies and most are used in utility-scale instances. In power tower systems, mirrors surround and reflect sunlight at a central point referred to as a receiver. Within the receiver there is fluid that is heated up creating thermal energy. This energy can be used to power an engine or spin a turbine creating electricity. Another CSP system is a linear system where mirrors are in rows and reflect light up to parallel tube receivers above them. Both of these systems convert solar radiation into heat and allow for longer storage of "sunlight". These two forms of creating solar energy are ever evolving. As the semi conductors within cells become stronger and battery life lasts longer the applications for solar will be able to expand even farther than they reach now. Contact us today to get involved with the solar energy action! Mon, 14 Feb 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/blog/8512/What-exactly-is-solar-power- http://Luxraysolarpower.com/Testimonials testimonial Richard is one of the few contractors I've hired that has shown up on time, charged what he quoted and did a great job. Very polite and professional, have already recommended him to friends and will certainly use him again. Tue, 02 Feb 2021 11:29:12 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/Testimonials http://Luxraysolarpower.com/Testimonials testimonial Did some panel work for me. Very good work and helpful in instructing on code, and do's and don'ts. I very much like those who share their knowledge. Tue, 02 Feb 2021 11:28:54 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/Testimonials http://Luxraysolarpower.com/Testimonials testimonial I've worked with Richard on two large solar installs, a panel upgrade, a couple of 220 installs and a few other minor troubleshooting things over multiple years. He's honest, reliable, reasonable, responsive and a heck of a nice guy to boot. Tue, 02 Feb 2021 11:28:36 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/Testimonials http://Luxraysolarpower.com/Testimonials testimonial Super helpful, flexible and competent. Helped me complete my solar installation for a reasonable price (unlike a lot of the competition didn't try and over charge me for supplies). Did a great job and I passed inspection no problem. Tue, 26 Jan 2021 11:04:40 GMT http://Luxraysolarpower.com/Testimonials