Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems (also known as solar panels or
solar power systems) convert sunlight directly into electricity.
Solar Photovoltaic Technology, Invented in 1954, is Well-Proven for
Residential and Commercial Applications.
- Scientists at Bell Telephone discovered that silicon (an element
found in sand) created an electric charge when exposed to sunlight.
This finding soon lead to the development of solar cells used to
power space satellites as well as smaller items like calculators
and watches. (Source: Department of Energy)
- Today, thousands of people power their homes and businesses with
solar panels.
- Over 100,000 solar power systems were installed in the U.S. in 2010
alone
- Utility companies are also developing solar farms capable of
producing more electricity than traditional coal or nuclear power
plants.
Solar Panels are Highly Durable, Generally Have a Warranty of 25
years and Can Last for Over 40 Years.
- Inverters carry warranties of 10 years and can last over 20 years.
(Inverters convert the direct current (DC) electricity produced by
the solar panels into alternating current (AC) which is used to
power lights and appliances.)
- PV systems have few moving / mechanical parts, minimizing equipment
failures.
Solar Power Systems are Practically Maintenance-Free.
- Require limited or no maintenance.
- Don't need to be washed or cleaned.
Can Be Installed Almost Anywhere in the United States.
- Most locations in the United States get enough sunlight to produce
sufficient electricity.
- While southern states gets more sunlight, the southern Sun causes
some solar panels to lose efficiency because they become too hot.
The System is Tied to the Grid and Does Not Require Batteries to
Store Power.
- Solar power systems generally operate in conjunction with
electricity supplied from your electric utility, ensuring a
constant power supply.
- States with net-metering laws allow owners to sell any extra
electricity their systems produce back to the grid. Most states in
the U.S. have passed net metering laws.
- Less frequently, PV systems are used by their owners to power
batteries that are then used to power lights and appliances "off
the grid," without any utility connection.
Solar Power Systems Can Eliminate Most Of, If Not All, Electricity
Bills.
- Systems generally produce more electricity in the summer months,
when the days are longer, and less in the winter months, when the
days are shorter.
- When the system produces extra electricity, it feeds it into the
grid for others to use, and your meter runs in reverse.
- If your system produces more electricity than you need, you sell it
back to the grid – your meter actually runs in reverse. When you're
using more electricity than what your system is producing you get
it from your utility via the grid. You only pay for the net
electricity you buy via the grid.
- If in a given year your system produces extra electricity, the
utility company will send you a check for the power your system
sold to the grid. (Alternatively, the utility will send you a bill
if you consumed more power than your system produced.)
Solar Power Systems are Most Suitable for Consumers Who Have High
Electricity Consumption and/or Expensive Electricity Rates.
The System is Suitable for Consumers Who Have Space Available On
the Roof or the Ground to Install Solar Panels.
- Roof-mounting solar PV
- If roof is sloped, one side should face south;
- If roof is flat, it must have sufficient room to install solar
panels;
- The roof should be relatively new--the panels have a useful life of
25 years or more;
- The roof must be able to bear the added weight of the solar panels;
and
- The roof should not be obstructed / shaded by trees or other tall
buildings
- Ground-mounting solar PV
- There must be sufficient cleared space on the lot to install solar
panels; and
- That space must not be obstructed / shaded by trees or adjacent
tall buildings.
The System is Suitable for Consumers Who Have Space Available On
the Roof or the Ground to Install Solar Panels
