BENEFITS | WHAT IS IT? | HOW DOES IT WORK? | PARTS OF A SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM | TYPES OF MOUNTING

Solar Panels

Solar panels are, in most cases, rectangular panels that receive the sun’s rays and use the solar irradiance ( also called Insolation) to produce power. Photovoltaic energy (energy from the sun) is based on the concept of these solar panels. They may be set up on a roof or beside a structure on a “field mount” connected to the home or building by underground wires.

Power Flow

1. The sun’s rays hit solar panels and produce electric power.
2. The solar panels then send that power to a power conditioning device (link to sunny boy), which changes the direct current into alternating current so that it can be used by the household.
3. That power passes through the Utility Net Meter, which counts the generated energy. The Net Meter spins backwards when energy follows from the solar system to the grid.
4. The utility supplies energy when the household surpasses the system’s energy output. The utility also absorbs surplus energy when the household generates energy that it does not use, building credit for the system owner. You may use this credit towards other times when you do not have solar energy such as nights and foggy days.

Power Usage

The solar energy that is produced by the system can be used immediately for power needs within the property. The Solar Power System is the main source of energy. If more power is needed than the solar modules can produce, the extra power needed is drawn from the utility. At night or during periods of low sunlight, the solar modules do not produce power and the property’s power operates solely on utility power. However, if during each day the property does not consume all of the electricity produced by the solar system, the excess power is sent out via the Net Meter to the utility company. The credit earned by doing so will be consumed during times of little or no sunlight, when solar energy is no longer being produced. The state of California has implemented Net Metering laws that require electric utilities to purchase your solar system’s electric power at the same rate the utility sells its power.

Example 1): With his new Solar Power System, Bob can use the energy that his system produces during the day when electricity prices are the most expensive. By doing this, Bob saves money that could have been used to pay for the electricity when it was most expensive.

Example 2): With his new Solar Power System, Bob can take advantage of the expensive electricity prices and may opt to use his generated energy towards providing electricity only at night, so that during the day he can sell back the unused energy at the “peak hour” rates.