Installation will depend on several factors and will need careful study, such as the angle of the sun, the position and area where you need to place the solar panels and the number of hours to complete the project. On Purchasing Purchasing solar power systems may be more expensive for first-time buyers. The device is based on the discovery of Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel who realized that a number of materials let go of electrons when these hit rays of photos straight from light, causing an electrical current. The first solar cells were made by Charles Fritts during the 1880s. Even though the prototype selenium cells converted below 1% of incident light into electricity, James Clerk Maxwell and Ernst Werner von Siemens realized the importance of the finding. How to Make Your Own Solar Panels As the cost of professional fees is quickly rising nowadays, people are becoming more reliant on their own skills and effort in building things. There are now a lot of DIY or do it yourself solar panel kits available at your local hardware store or on the internet. You can order and have the materials delivered right to your doorstep in just a few days. Denmark and Holland, and most of the northern European country, claims that they have more solar panels than the United Kingdom, indicating that you don t necessarily have to have a hot climate in order to enjoy the benefits of solar energy. How Much Area Does Solar Power Plants Need? Most, if not all, solar power plants require a certain stretch of land area in order to house all the solar panels that these power plants need to have in order to properly harness and collect sunlight and solar energy. Next Steps Take a battery box where you will put the generator in. The box may only cost around $10. It is ideal for covering the exposed terminals just in case you have kids inside the house. If you want to install the system in a cabin, pump shed or boat, you can skip this step. Purchase a 12 volt DC meter. Off-grid living means residing in a location where the main electric utility grid does not service your home or office. There are remote cabins and homes that can benefit from solar power systems. It is no longer needed to pay huge bills to install electric utility posts and cabling from the nearest grid access main point.