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Solar Energy for Homes
Chief among these is solar photovoltaic technology, or PV for short. PV uses
environmentally friendly solar energy to produce electricity from solar panels installed
on roof tops or at ground level.
While cost can be a barrier to some residential solar energy installations, there are
State, Federal, and utility incentives available to substantially reduce the cost of solar
energy for homes.
A photovoltaic system consists of specific pieces of equipment wired together and
connected to a home’s power distribution network. Components typically include:
environmentally friendly solar energy to produce electricity from solar panels installed
on roof tops or at ground level.
While cost can be a barrier to some residential solar energy installations, there are
State, Federal, and utility incentives available to substantially reduce the cost of solar
energy for homes.
A photovoltaic system consists of specific pieces of equipment wired together and
connected to a home’s power distribution network. Components typically include:
Solar energy for homes is hardly
a new concept.
Efforts to design and construct
devices for supplying renewable
energy began at the height of
the Industrial Revolution - which
was largely founded on the
promise of seemingly
inexhaustible supplies of fossil
fuels.
140 years later, in the face of
inexhaustible demand for finite
resources, our attention turns
once again to renewable energy
technologies.
a new concept.
Efforts to design and construct
devices for supplying renewable
energy began at the height of
the Industrial Revolution - which
was largely founded on the
promise of seemingly
inexhaustible supplies of fossil
fuels.
140 years later, in the face of
inexhaustible demand for finite
resources, our attention turns
once again to renewable energy
technologies.
A solar array is made up of a series of modules that are the basic building block and
power producer of the system. A rule of thumb is 100 square feet of unobstructed roof
area is required for a 1,000 watt system or “array.” Systems generally include several
modules wired together to achieve the desired system capacity. The combined power
of the modules is sent to the inverter.
Inverter
The power produced by PV panels is direct current (DC), which is incompatible with
household appliances that run on alternating current (AC). The inverter converts DC
power to appliance friendly AC power.
The inverter is sized to match the system's output and is wired into your existing
electric service panel (breaker box). In grid-connected systems, inverters are designed
so that power production by the PV system is terminated when utility-supplied power
is interrupted.
Shut-off
Some utilities require an external shut off, or isolation switch, for the PV system so the
power company can shut down the system if necessary when workers are fixing the
power lines.
Net Metering
When your system generates excess power - for instance when no one's home - the
excess power is fed back out through your electric meter, causing the meter to run
backwards. In effect, your local utility is purchasing the unused power your system
produces.
The PV systems described in Solar Energy for Homes are all grid-tied systems. Grid tied
systems draw power as needed from the local utility (grid) to supplement the solar
energy produced by the PV system.
power producer of the system. A rule of thumb is 100 square feet of unobstructed roof
area is required for a 1,000 watt system or “array.” Systems generally include several
modules wired together to achieve the desired system capacity. The combined power
of the modules is sent to the inverter.
Inverter
The power produced by PV panels is direct current (DC), which is incompatible with
household appliances that run on alternating current (AC). The inverter converts DC
power to appliance friendly AC power.
The inverter is sized to match the system's output and is wired into your existing
electric service panel (breaker box). In grid-connected systems, inverters are designed
so that power production by the PV system is terminated when utility-supplied power
is interrupted.
Shut-off
Some utilities require an external shut off, or isolation switch, for the PV system so the
power company can shut down the system if necessary when workers are fixing the
power lines.
Net Metering
When your system generates excess power - for instance when no one's home - the
excess power is fed back out through your electric meter, causing the meter to run
backwards. In effect, your local utility is purchasing the unused power your system
produces.
The PV systems described in Solar Energy for Homes are all grid-tied systems. Grid tied
systems draw power as needed from the local utility (grid) to supplement the solar
energy produced by the PV system.
Solar Array
Solar cells are aggregated
together to form a PV panel or
module. Each solar cell
converts sunlight directly into
electricity.
The cells work when sunlight
strikes the semiconductor
material inside the cells, which
frees electrons, then captures
the electrons in an electric
current.
The more intense the sunlight
striking the cell, the greater
the amount of electricity
produced.
Solar cells are aggregated
together to form a PV panel or
module. Each solar cell
converts sunlight directly into
electricity.
The cells work when sunlight
strikes the semiconductor
material inside the cells, which
frees electrons, then captures
the electrons in an electric
current.
The more intense the sunlight
striking the cell, the greater
the amount of electricity
produced.
Solar Energy for Homes
Evaluate Your Home for
Solar Energy
Residential PV System Cost
Comparison of Photovoltaic
Solar Panels
Solar Power Shingles
Thin Film PV Roofing Video
Photo Voltaic System Components
Solar Energy Building Codes
Solar for RV's
RV Solar Panels
RV Solar Inverter
Solar Chargers
Solar iPod & Cell Phone Charger
Evaluate Your Home for
Solar Energy
Residential PV System Cost
Comparison of Photovoltaic
Solar Panels
Solar Power Shingles
Thin Film PV Roofing Video
Photo Voltaic System Components
Solar Energy Building Codes
Solar for RV's
RV Solar Panels
RV Solar Inverter
Solar Chargers
Solar iPod & Cell Phone Charger