These are very clever solar panels

@JudyEv (340162)
Rockingham, Australia
January 18, 2023 11:38pm CST
Many farmers in Western Australia make use of solar power nowadays. You might see just a couple of panels in the middle of a paddock but they are perhaps running a pump, sucking water up from below the ground. Many houses now, both in the country and in suburbia, have multiple panels installed on their rooves. At our house-sit on a farm, the panels are on a framework and the frame moves to follow the movement of the sun. This really impresses me. The upper photo shows the solar panels around midday. The panels are face on to the noon sun. It might be hard to see but they are slightly angled to the north as, in the southern hemisphere, the sun tracks slightly to the north as it passes overhead. The lower photo was taken at about 6pm and the panels have moved to face the setting sun in the west. We don’t know at what time the mechanism brings the panels back to face the east ready for sunrise. Both photos are taken from almost the same place. I get annoyed with technology at times but at times, it’s quite awe-inspiring.
20 people like this
20 responses
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
19 Jan 23
They have installed solar panels that "follow the sun" here (same as the sunflowers). Those panes are used for the street lights.
4 people like this
@vandana7 (100297)
• India
19 Jan 23
Wow...wonder if India will ever reach that level.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
19 Jan 23
@JudyEv I should take a photo of those solar panels, they are also made to look like a "flower" and the petals fold in case of bad weather.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jan 23
I must take more notice of smaller installations. Maybe many are following the sun but I just haven't noticed.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139742)
• Roseburg, Oregon
19 Jan 23
Solar panels save the owner a lot of money. There should be more everywhere.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jan 23
There are more and more in our country now. The governments has been giving rebates if you have them installed which has added to the incentive to get them.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (139742)
• Roseburg, Oregon
19 Jan 23
@JudyEv The whole world needs them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jan 23
@jstory07 You do need a certain amount of sun though.
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
19 Jan 23
Here is Arizona, USA, we have a lot of solar panels on the rooftops of houses. It is expensive to have the system installed but over time a lot of money is save on electric bills. I want to have my house converted to solar within the next year.
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jan 23
It is expensive to start with but then you do start to save money. And surely it has to be good for the environment.
• Nairobi, Kenya
20 Jan 23
The initial cost maybe high but its just a one off investment you make but the usage is long term.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100297)
• India
19 Jan 23
If it moves, I am all for it....
4 people like this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jan 23
A great many don't. Those on rooves don't obviously.
1 person likes this
@cool83 (4467)
• Sri Lanka
19 Jan 23
It`s really nice idea rite , What good idea for the modern world rite ? , Yeah Solar panel is the next big thing in the world very near future , Also seems those panels sensing to the sun setting rite ?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jan 23
Yes, there is some sort of sensor in them that makes them follow the sun.
@Beestring (14558)
• Hong Kong
19 Jan 23
Those solar panels are really impressive. The use of solar panels are that common in Hong Kong yet.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jan 23
Did you mean they aren't that common? If everything is already on electricity, there may not be a lot of incentive to change.
2 people like this
@Beestring (14558)
• Hong Kong
19 Jan 23
@JudyEv Yes, I meant not that common. HK is packed with high rise buildings. I guess some solar panels are installed in rural or less populated areas.
1 person likes this
• Nairobi, Kenya
20 Jan 23
@JudyEv But solar energy is cheaper and considerations may be made to move back to solar.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136529)
• India
19 Jan 23
Kudos to technology.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jan 23
When it works, it's great. When it doesn't, it's a pain in the neck.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136529)
• India
20 Jan 23
@JudyEv I never g for upgrades as I am doing as good or even better than those who have a smart pyhone. I am happy with my feature phones (lol)
1 person likes this
• China
19 Jan 23
It is a really ingenious way to let the solar panels have phototropism,like sunflower.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jan 23
We had a lot of trouble photographing sunflowers in France as they were always facing the wrong way!
1 person likes this
• Nairobi, Kenya
20 Jan 23
@JudyEv May be you time when they are facing the sun
1 person likes this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
19 Jan 23
Solar panels are amazing! Using them will save a lot of money in the long run.
1 person likes this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
20 Jan 23
@JudyEv That's right. If it is, everyone should use solar power.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jan 23
Yes, they do save a lot of money and hopefully they are better for the environment.
@RebeccasFarm (89873)
• Arvada, Colorado
25 Jan 23
I wish I had solar..
1 person likes this
• Arvada, Colorado
25 Jan 23
@JudyEv Oh yes probably..thats great Judy
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jan 23
Our last electricity 'bill' was actually a credit amount. I'm sure we can expect that every quarter. Maybe it had something to do with us being away for so long.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
19 Jan 23
Very impressive
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jan 23
Some things just seem so smart.
• Nairobi, Kenya
20 Jan 23
@JudyEv I think they borrow from the concept of "making work easier"
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
19 Jan 23
I haven't noticed moving solar panels, but I'm pretty sure we have them here, too. More and more homes and businesses are having them installed. It's the smart way to go, besides wind power.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
20 Jan 23
@JudyEv At our stage of life, we won't bother having them installed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jan 23
No doubt they are everywhere but I hadn't had much to do with them. With it being here at the back door, we noticed how it moved during the day.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jan 23
@DianneN Fair enough.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Jan 23
Those are amazing. Yes, technology can be amazing.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
20 Jan 23
@JudyEv That's good they work properly.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jan 23
It's great when it works properly. lol
1 person likes this
@MakOwiti (73)
• Nairobi, Kenya
20 Jan 23
Thats a nice technology especially where cost of energy is high. Its self adjusting system that requires little human intervention.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jan 23
That's true. Once installed, the system looks after itself.
@GardenGerty (160697)
• United States
20 Jan 23
They are able to do so much these days.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jan 23
And these self-drive headers/harvesters. It's pretty amazing.
@BarBaraPrz (47334)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
19 Jan 23
Cool! That gate doesn't look as if it's connected to the fence.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jan 23
I think it's just that you can't make out the wire.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (50979)
• Canada
19 Jan 23
My brothers put some of those up back in 2009 and 2010.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jan 23
They have no doubt been here a long time too but these that track the sun blow my mind. It seems such a good thing to use the power of the sun to provide power.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106362)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Jan 23
That is a great way to maximize the sun
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jan 23
It's pretty amazing how it tracks the sun.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178785)
• United States
19 Jan 23
That is really cool. There is so much sun in Australia that solar panels would be the way to go.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jan 23
Yes, in Australia, it seems a no-brainer to have solar panels if you can.
1 person likes this
@Nevena83 (65277)
• Serbia
19 Jan 23
They say those panels are very useful.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340162)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jan 23
Our power during the day costs us nothing now so that's a good thing.
1 person likes this