What is solar energy?

Solar energy is generated from the light and radiant heat from the Sun, which influences the Earth’s climate and weather and sustains life.

Solar power is sometimes used as a synonym for solar energy or more specifically for the electricity generated from solar radiation.

Solar energy technologies can generate electricity by heat engine or photovoltaic means; space heating and cooling in active and passive solar buildings.

The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) of incoming solar radiation (insulation) at the upper atmosphere.

Approximately 30% is reflected back to space while the rest is absorbed by clouds, oceans and land masses.

The absorbed solar light heats the land surface, oceans and atmosphere. The warm air containing evaporated water from the oceans rises, driving atmospheric circulation or convection.

The total solar energy absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and land masses is approximately 3,850,000 exajoules (EJ) per year.

How does solar power work ?

The solar cells used in solar panels to generate electricity are called photovoltaic cells or modules (modules are simply a group of cells electrically connected and packaged in one frame).

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is currently the most commonly used. Basically, when light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material.

This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. The energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely. PV cells also all have one or more electric fields that force electrons freed by light absorption to flow in a certain direction.

These flow of electrons is a current. By placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the PV cell, we can draw that current off to use externally.

What are the benefits of solar power ?

There are 3 main advantages of using solar energy:

1. Economic Benefits: providinges superior lighting at least cost.
2. Environmental Benefits: reducinges local air pollution and offsets greenhouse gases.
3. Health Benefits: maintaining a noiseless and clean home environment.

What is a residential solar power system ?

We offer comprehensive and, code-compliant systems that allow you to generate your own electricity at home. Designed to interconnect with your existing utility service, they feature solar modules, plug-and-play wiring, and power electronics. Our installer network provides system installation and service.

How many solar panels does it take to power my house ?

The array size you need depends on your average electrical usage, climate, roof angle, shading problems and many other factors. To approximate the array size you need, multiply your average daily electrical demand in kilowatt-hours by 0.25. The result is the approximate size of solar array, in kilowatts, needed to meet your electrical demand.

How about warranty ?

Normally solar panel manufactueres provide 5 years workmanship and materials, 10 years 90% output and 25 years 80% output warranty. Inverter is covered by 10 years warranty for residential string inverter. And we cover 5 years installation warranty.

How much would it cost to solar power my house ?

The cost to install residential solar power systems are mainly from three areas:

1. Paperworks and application fee
2. Hardware cost
3. Installation labor cost

How to install solar power system ?

Step 1: Preparation Phase

a) Conduct a home audit to determine what can be done to reduce electricity usage.
b) Determine the size of the PV system based on budget, energy cost reduction, and available mounting area for the system.
c) Determine the physical size and dimensions of the PV array and its primary components.

Step 2: Design Phase

a) Examine location options for mounting the PV array.
b) Select system options to make sure the equipment meets the guidelines of local incentive programs.
c) Contact local utility company to obtain the required documents for interconnection and net metering.
d) Review documents to ensure system meets local interconnection requirements.
e) Purchase the equipment.
f) Lay out PV array on roof plan or other structure.
g) Calculate the impact of shading on the PV array layout.

Step 3: Installation Phase

a) Receive equipment and prepare for installation.
b) Review installation instructions for each component to become familiar with the installation process.
c) Estimate the length of wire runs from PV modules to combiner and inverter.
d) Check the capacity of PV array circuits to determine the minimum wire size for the current flow.
e) Size PV array wiring such that the maximum voltage drop at full power from the PV modules to the inverter is 3% or less.
f) Estimate the length of wire run from inverter to main service panel.
g) Examine the main service panel to determine if the panel is adequately sized to receive the PV breaker or whether the panel must be upgraded.
h) If system includes a critical load subpanel (battery standby system), determine which circuits are critical.
i) Determine the location of critical load subpanel, install subpanel and prepare to move circuits.
l) Install PV array. Packaged systems should include detailed instructions on each phase of the installation process.

Step 4: Maintenance and Operation Phase

a) Wash PV array, during the day, when the temperature is cooler and when there is a noticeable buildup of soiling deposits.
b) Periodically inspect the system to make sure all wiring and supports stay intact.
c) On a sunny day around noon on March 21 and September 21 of each year, review the output of the system (assuming the array is clean) to see whether the performance of the system is close to the previous year’s reading. Maintain a log of these readings so you can identify if the system is performance's staying consistent, or declining too rapidly, signifying a system problem.