 What
is Solar Electricity?
Solar-electric or photovoltaics (PV) technology converts
sunlight directly into electricity. You may be more familiar
with PV cells as solar cells that power watches and calculators.
The first commercially available solar calculator was manufactured
by SHARP in the 1960’s. But PV can do much more.
It can provide electricity for residential and commercial
buildings, including power for security, lights and air
conditioning.
Why use PV?
The sun generates enough clean energy in one day to
provide a year’s supply of energy for your
home or office. Why not tap into this abundant resource
of clean energy? PV preserves the earth's finite
fossil-fuel resources, oil, natural gas and coal,
and reduces air and noise pollution associated with
these energy sources. Consumers and businesses also
benefit from PV when faced with power outages and
future electricity price increases. Recent technological
breakthroughs, combined with federal and state programs
and incentives, have greatly reduced the costs of
PV ownership. PV system reliability and durability
are outstanding-typical PV systems last 30 years
with minimal maintenance.
 What
does a typical PV system look like?
A typical PV system consists of solar cells connected
electrically to form a module that can measure two to
four feet wide and four to six feet long. Some solar
modules look just like traditional roof shingles. Many
interconnected PV modules are called an array. An array
is often mounted on the roof of a building, facing the
sun at an angle, so that the modules receive the maximum
amount of sunlight. Other typical features of a PV system
are an inverter, which changes your electricity from
direct current to alternating current so it can be used
in the home as easily as utility provided electricity. |
