Solar PV Energy
What Is Solar PV?
Photovoltaic (PV) solar modules absorb direct sunlight and an inverter converts it to be an electrical provider for your home or building.
The amount of electricity provided is measured in kilowatt-hours, or kWh. The number of kWh generated is determined by the power rating of the system and the amount of sunlight that the system receives. The geographic location of the system, orientation, and shading may affect the kWh production of the system, so proper design and installation is important for optimal performance.
PV modules contain no moving parts, generally last thirty years or more, and require minimal maintenance.
How Solar Works
Solar Panels
Inverter
Electrical Box
Electricity to Home
Net Metering
Grid Interconnection
Through the process of net metering, the energy that you do not use will be sent back through the electric grid (power lines).
Electricity Generation and Savings
A solar array's output peaks mid-day when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, which can offset the most expensive electricity when daily demand is greatest. This will help reduce or possibly eliminate monthly electricity and utility bills while providing a pollution-free electricity solution. Basically, you are getting free electricity!
Depending on your electric utility provider, net metering can be an option for customers. Net metering allows residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity from solar power to feed electricity they don't use back to the grid to be used at a later time. This is like using the utility provider as a battery. For example, if the solar array generates more electricity than the house or building consumes during daylight hours, your utility company's electric meter will run backward to provide a credit against what electricity is consumed at night or other periods where the building's electricity demand exceeds the solar array's output. Any electricity pushed back into the utility grid is subtracted from the grid electricity used by the home. Customers are only billed on the “net” energy use. Check with your utility provider to see what their net metering program looks like.