Solutions
Blue Marble Solar is your local expert for all your solar energy needs. Whether you are looking to reduce your hot water energy costs, grid-tie a PV system, or need to power a remote cabin, BMS can provide a high performance and cost-effective system solution.
Using our proprietary design tools, BMS can optimize system performance and value for each specific application. We use only the highest quality products with proven reliability when designing your individual solution.
- Solar Electricity (PV)
- Solar Hot Water
- Solar Pool and Spa Heating
- Specialty Solutions
- Solar Powered Irrigation
- Solar Powered Boat Lifts / Dock Power
- Custom Projects
We stand behind our systems with a lifetime service commitment and performance guarantees. Let us help you to find the best solution for your solar energy application.
Solar Electricity (PV)
Photovoltaic (PV) systems use solar cells to capture the sun rays and convert that energy into electricity. Such systems allow homeowners to generate electricity in a clean, reliable, and quiet way that can offset the cost of future electricity costs and decrease their dependence on the energy grid.
Photovoltaic cells are generally made from modified silicon, or other semi conductive materials, that absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaic cells are long lasting (the first PV system ever installed in the USA – in 1954 – is still operating today). Most manufacturers warranty their products power output for a minimum of 20 years. But most solar 
professionals agree that a system should last at least 25 – 30 years.
Types of Solar Cells
There are three basic types of PV modules: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. All modules work well though monocrystalline cells often yield the greatest efficiencies. Thin-film technology typically costs less and its efficiency is ever improving as demand for solar panels grow. A growing variety of manufacturers and models are available in the marketplace today. A solar pro can walk you through the advantages and disadvantages of each system so that you find a design that performs optimally over its multi-decade long lifespan for your application.
How solar electric systems work
Photovoltaic panels are often mounted on a roof and wired into a building via an inverter. The inverter converts the direct current (DC) energy generated through the solar panels into alternating current (AC), the most common type of current used to power buildings in the USA.
Orienting solar panels to the south maximizes the effectiveness of energy collection, and most roofs – from flat to 60-degrees – can accommodate photovoltaic cells.
Solar Panels vs Building Integrated Photovoltaic Products (BIPV)
Solar panels are flat panels of photovoltaic arrays mounted on a roof or a pole to capture the sun's rays. They are the traditional arrays used to catch energy from the sun. Because of their standalone design, solar panels are well suited for home retrofits or remodels.
Solar photovoltaic cells, however, are increasingly incorporated into building components such as windows, walls, or roof tiles. The effect provides a seamless integration into a building's design since the BIPV components essentially disappear into the skin of your home. BIPV products work particularly well for new home construction or a significant remodel. And because BIPV panels are made for both photovoltaic and thermal collection systems, designers often place both technologies side-by-side to further maximize efficiencies.
Solar Hot Water
Using solar power to heat your water is one of the most practical and cost effective ways to harness energy from the sun. Solar thermal systems absorb the sun's heat and use it to heat your residence's own hot water needs. In general, the solar thermal system will easily heat water to 140ºF or higher matching the range of its traditional hot water tank counterpart. Effective systems can collect up to 70 percent of the sun's energy that reaches them and transfer it to you.
In general there are two types of active water heating systems: direct and indirect.
Direct Solar Water Heating
As implied, direct systems capture the sun's heat in collectors to directly heat a household's water supply. The system consists of collector pipes filled with water that are linked to an insulated storage tank usually located inside a home. As the sun heats the water inside the pipes, the water flows into the storage tank. Although direct systems are more efficient that indirect ones, they require more maintenance to keep the pipes clear of mineral deposits. Direct solar thermal systems also work best in warmer climates where the system is less prone to freezing. Unfortunately, direct systems are not suitable for use in South Carolina since freezing, although rare, can occur.
Indirect Solar Water Heating
Indirect systems do not heat the water directly rather they use fluid with a low-freezing point to absorb radiant energy from the sun. Also termed closed-loop systems, an indirect solar water heating system absorbs the sun's rays into either a flat-plate collector or tubular glass evacuated tube collector. The collection system is mounted and tilted to maximize solar collection.
Often glycol (an ingredient in antifreeze) runs through the collection loop. As the temperature in the collector rises, the heat activates a pump that circulates a water and glycol fluid through a heat exchange coil in the water tank. That coil, in turn, transfers its heat to the water tank and voila, hot water is produced.
A special type of indirect system that incorporates a drainback tank offers fail-safe freeze protection by removing all water from the collectors and piping when the system is not collecting heat. This is an ideal system for use in South Carolina. Each time the pump shuts off, water in the collectors and exposed piping drains into the insulated reservoir tank. Drainback systems circulate fluid-transfer solution through the collectors, then through a heat exchanger where the heat is transferred to the potable water in the solar tank.
Where to Place a Solar Thermal Collection System
Like other types of solar energy systems, solar hot water heating systems work best on south-facing walls with full sun exposure. Because of the collector tubes' type of construction, the outside elements have less effect on its performance compared to a photovoltaic collection system; a bit of shade on the thermal array will have a less noticeable impact.
Solar Pool and Hot Tub Heating Systems
Solar pool heating systems work on a similar principle to a direct system solar hot water heater. However, since the outside 
air temperature is close to the ideal pool temperature, the collector's glazing is not needed. Using non-glazed polyethylene collectors that resemble a flat black mat prevents the pool water in the collectors from becoming too hot as well as reduces the overall cost of the system.
How it works
A) Using your existing pool pump, pool water is directed through a series of valves to your solar collectors.
B) Pool water enters the solar collectors at the bottom and rises to the top through the individual tubes of the collector.
C) As the water rises through the collector it is heated by the sun's radiant energy.
D) The swimming pool water is then returned to your pool to repeat the cycle until your pool is warm. While solar pool and hot tub heating systems often are exempted from federal and state monetary solar incentives and rebates, they often pay for themselves within 1–5 years (depending mostly on where you live and how it is sized).
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