Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Power
Solar Power FAQ
1. Why go solar?
All over the U.S. and the world people have been installing solar panels and integrating solar power into their lives. There are many reasons that this is happening. First, in the long run, it just makes dollars and sense. Utility bills go down and home values go up, not to mention the satisfaction of taking control of your future utility costs. As fossil fuels go up, up, up, solar powe is free. Government is providing incentives. Solar thermal systems to heat pools saves money and increases enjoyment. Solar powered hot water heaters save money as well. Renewable energy in all forms is good for the future of the Earth.
2. Are there financial incentives for “going solar” and making solar electricity?
Absolutely. Some of these incentives will vary, depending on your location, but we will list few: you will create utility cost stability for yourself, your home value will increase, there are often credits available to offset some of your installation costs, you will be contributing to your children’s future and, with batteries you can create a backup for electricity outages.
3. What kind of government incentives exist?
This will vary, depending on your location, but we or your solar panel installer can fill you in on the details. The big picture is that countries around the world, and states within the U.S., offer incentives and tax breaks for investment in solar power and renewable systems. This makes sense for a number of reasons. Most people don’t know that governments subsidize the petroleum industry. In the U.S., between 5 and 10 billion dollars a year of taxpayers’ money goes to the petroleum industry, while less than 500 million dollars a year goes to renewable energy. Fossil fuels are more expensive and the prices very volatile. Governments have begun to recognize that there is a finite supply of oil reserves and their use damages the environment and even threatens national security. They have begun encouraging consumers to switch to renewable energies that tap into free sources which will do far less harm to the environment.
These programs have been successful in other countries. For example, in 1994, the government of Japan introduced incentives for solar energy. This program has resulted in a 72 percent reduction in the average cost of solar energy systems, due to the expanded market availability and increased efficiency of distribution. Solar energy is now competitive in Japan, and the need for incentives is being reduced.
4. What will solar energy cost me, if I want to use solar panels to help power my home?
A June 2009 study done by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (called “Tracking the Sun: The Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the U.S. from 1998-2007”) reported that average solar power system costs have declined from $10.50 in 1998 to $7.60 in 2007. A robust solar electric system will cost about $20,000. You can spend as much money, to receive as much solar electricity, as you feel comfortable with.
5. If I sell my property, what effect does a solar panel system have on the sale price?
It will increase your property’s value. A general “rule-of-thumb” is that your value will increase $20,000 for every $1,000 saved per year as a result of the installation of your solar panel system. It is a great home improvement.
6. How much time will it take to realize my investment (ROI)?
The answer depends on your location. Most commercial and industrial solar power projects experience ROI in 5 to 10 years. Depending on the state and the complexity of the system, ROI for residential PV solar panel systems can range from 5 to 20 years.
7. Can I get financing to help buy my new solar power system?
Yes. With good credit, there are several financing options available. You should be able to get financing. You should investigate lease and power purchase agreement (PPA) options as well. With solar leases and PPA’s, you, in effect, purchase solar power generated by the PV solar panel system that someone else invests in. Please contact us. We can help.
8. How much solar electric power do I need to power my home?
How much is your electric bill? Each family will have different needs depending on when the home was built, how large it is, what appliances are used, the family’s lifestyle, etc. All of these things can be reviewed and modified, but the starting point will be to look at your current electrical bills.
9. How much power does the solar panel system produce?
Solar panels systems can generate as little or as much power as you want. Systems are specifically designed to meet the needs of the home owner. They can provide a portion or all of the electricity required and can be expanded in the future, if necessary.
10. How much power does a single PV solar panel generate?
The average PV solar panel generates 175 watts of power, however, depending on the type of panel and manufacturer, a wide range of watt power panels is available up to 320 watt power rating.
11. How many PV solar panels will my house need?
The answer depends on a number of factors, including the type of project, the extent of the current electricity bill to be covered, the level of the monthly electricity bill, the extent of your peak electrical needs, the physical layout of your site, your budget and whether other forms of renewable energy are to be included in your project. The average house will require 3 kW to 5kW of power to be generated.
12. How much space does the solar power system need?
This will depend on a number of factors, including how much energy you need to produce. As a very general “rule-of-thumb,” a typical system will require between 7 to 8 square feet for each dollar of your electric bill.
13. Do the solar panels need to be mounted on my roof?
This is by far the most common place for solar panels to be mounted, but they can also be mounted on the ground. There are many good reasons for some to consider ground-mounted, including too much shade or limited available roof space. Roof solar panels are the most common residential PV solar power systems.
14. Do the PV solar panels need to face south?
In the United States, having the solar panels facing south is the best, since the sun travels on that side of your home, at different angles throughout the year. PV solar panels facing east or west will still generate a high percentage of power. The design of your home and its roof angles should ultimately provide the answer to this question.
15. Can I start with a small solar panel system and later add more panels?
PV solar panel systems are designed to easily expand, provided you have adequate space. Solar power micro-inverters has made the strategy of starting with a small solar panel system and gradually expanding to a larger solar power system even more practical.
16. How long does it take to install a PV solar power system?
This depends on the size and complexity of your system, but generally a residential roof-mounted PV solar panel system will take between two to five days to install. A ground-mounted solar power system or a system with batteries will generally take longer. Commercial solar power systems usually take weeks or more than a month, depending upon size and complexity.
17. How long will the solar power system last?
PV solar panels have a twenty-five year manufacturer’s warranty, but will last longer than that. In some cases, solar panels have been known to last for 60 years. The remainder of the solar power system will have shorter economic lives and warranties. Solar power inverters come with up to a ten year manufacturer’s warranty. Most other parts of the system will be warranted for five years.
18. Do I need to install a new roof before the solar panels are installed?
Since the solar panel system will last more than twenty-five years, it is important that your roof be in pretty good condition. Most solar panel installations do not require a new roof. Once the solar panels are installed, the wear-and-tear of the roof underneath is pretty well protected.
19. I need batteries with the solar power system?
Most people do not use batteries in their solar panel system, as doing so increases complexity and cost of system and its design. Without batteries, the system has no way to store power. For safety reasons, the solar panel system cannot generate electricity without an electric utility in operation.
20. What happens when the utility has a power outage?
A solar power system without batteries will not generate electricity at all when the utility service is not operational. A battery system can be added to overcome this limitation, but doing so increases the complexity and cost. Most people do not use batteries in their PV solar panel system and find that occasional power outages are tolerable.
21. How does the solar power get stored?
In a solar panel system without batteries, electricity is not stored. Instead, it is either used immediately or sent back to your utility company, to be used somewhere else. If storage is necessary, large batteries or other equipment can be added to your system.
22. What is Net Metering?
“Net metering” is a regulatory term that describes the ability for a utility customer to get monetary credit for solar electricity that you generate and send back to the utility company. It is measured through your utility meter. The rules vary, depending on where you live. Under net metering, you can generate excess electricity during the day and use it at night, without using batteries.
23. What happens if the PV solar panels get covered?
Most solar power is made during clear sunny days. This is taken into consideration when your solar panel system is designed. Very little energy is generated when the panels are covered by anything.
24. What happens if the PV solar panels are shaded?
Any amount of shade will significantly reduce the output of your photovoltaic solar panel system. The PV solar panels should be installed where they will get direct sunlight. Good design, engineering and equipment will assure that your solar power system operates as optimally as possible.
25. Do I need to clean the solar panels periodically?
Generally, rain will do this for you. Because of this, most people do not clean their panels. However, solar panel systems located in dusty areas will benefit by being cleaned periodically. A stream of water from a hose is usually a sufficient way to do this. There are a few “don’ts” to remember in cleaning your panels: don’t walk on them or over them, don’t spray water on them when they are very hot, and don’t use metal, hard or abrasive materials to clean them.
26. Are the panels fragile?
No. The solar panels are made to withstand hail and extreme temperatures. They are made of tempered glass. Because they are made of glass, no cold water on them when they are hot.
27. How do photovoltaics work?
Sunlight is made of photons, small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons ‘agitate’ the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move (or are dislodged), these are ‘routed’ into a current. This, technically, is electricity – the movement of electrons along a path. Wire conducts these electrons, either to batteries or to the regular electrical system of the house, to be used by appliances and other household electrical items. In many solar power systems, the battery stores energy for later use. This is especially true when the sun is shining strongly. Photovoltaic energy is the most promising and popular form of solar power. With solar photovoltaics, sunlight is actually converted into electricity. This is very different from a conventional understanding of solar power as only a way of heating water. Photovoltaic is now the biggest usage of solar energy around the world. It can be used to power homes and RVs, calculators and street lights or as a part of a grid generation system.
28. What are the components of a photovoltaic solar panel system?
A basic solar panel system is comprised primarily of photovoltaic solar panels, solar mounts and an inverter. A solar power inverter converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). AC is the standard form of electricity available when you plug an alliance into a wall socket. You installer will help you make the right selection of these items. In addition, a PV solar panel system might also include solar batteries, charge controllers, grid-tie-inverters, solar panel mounts and solar panel tracking.
29. What is “Grid-inter-tied” solar energy?
Due to increasing government incentives and rising costs of electricity, buying a home solar electricity system that is inter-tied with the electrical utility grid in your area is becoming increasingly viable and popular. A grid interconnected solar power system is one that adds your array of solar panels onto the existing source of electricity provided by the utility in your area. With this system, your solar panels are connected to the “normal” source of electricity (the breaker panel) at your home. This type of system will be comprised of the normal components of a solar panel system, plus it will require an array DC disconnect device, an AC breaker panel, a kilowatt hour meter and a utility disconnect.
30. How do I choose what I need?
Your solar panel installer is trained to provide you with expert advice about solar power technology. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing solar panels. The primary factors are cost, durability, size and type of the PV solar panel to be used. The cost will depend on the size and type, as well as where it’s manufactured. More and more panels are being manufactured in China because the cost is substantially lower than those manufactured in other parts of the world. This will result in discount solar panels to you. Like other products, you may pay more for brand names. The size of the panel generally determines the maximum wattage that will be generated at optimum operating conditions. The wattage is also determined by the kind of solar cells used and whether they are single crystal, polycrystalline or thin-film. For example, a 50 watt panel will be about two square feet in size, whereas a 190 watt panel will be about eight square feet. Different types of solar panels have different durability. Frames can also make a difference in the durability area. Most PV panels are framed in aluminum. The manufacturer’s warranty will provide an indication of the solar panel durability. The type of solar panel you use will be determined by what you use it for. Panels for home use are different than those needed to portable use. There are also a number of factors to consider when selecting a solar power inverter. These factors include automatic on/off operation capabilities, battery charging capabilities and surge capacity. There are two basic types of inverters: synchronous inverters and stand-alone inverters. High quality inverters made in China, will generally be less expensive than those made in other parts of the world.
Inter-tied inverters, also called synchronous inverters, are designed to be used with net metering and must be matched to the wattage output of your solar panel system. A synchronous inverter takes the electricity collected by your solar panel array and applies it to the distribution panel in your home. The power then may be used by the loads within your home or it may flow out to the utility grid. When no solar energy is collected by your array, at night or with very cloudy weather, your utility provides electricity used by the load in your home. If you are also operating with a solar battery, a multi-function inverter, also known as a hybrid-power inverter, will be required. A hybrid-power inverter is also connected to your battery bank and a standby generator. The battery bank allows you to store power and use less electricity from the grid. If there is no solar energy available, the multi-function inverter will draw your required electricity from the battery bank first, and then, when the battery bank is drained, will draw power from the utility grid.
31. What are solar packaged systems?
A number of manufacturers and resellers have put together complete packages that take the difficulty of making many of the detail decision out of the solar panel system buying process. Grid-inter-tie packaged systems are generally retail-priced in the $20,000 price range and will include everything you need, while a basic starter kit package will be priced in the $8,000-$12,000 range. Cabin or remote system kits that will provide power to off-grid homes start at $1,500, up to a full-size system which will be priced in the $5,000 range. RV system kits are priced under $1,000
32. What is solar thermal?
Solar thermal systems will save on both gas and electricity costs (it can easily save you $1,000 per year or more). Solar thermal water heating systems collect the sun’s energy in the form of thermal or heat energy. Solar thermal is considered one of the most cost-effective energy systems. With this system, the sun does most of the work to heat water in your house or in your swimming pool. There are three types of cost-effective solar thermal systems: closed-loop solar thermal systems, a solar pool heater and a solar blanket.
33. Is solar power a good idea for agriculture?
Of all the many uses for solar power, agriculture is the most practical. Electric fences. Solar energy for water pumping. Solar crop dryers. Air and water heating for livestock. Greenhouse heating. Remote energy supply. The list goes on…all great reasons to use solar energy for agriculture.
34. How do I choose my installer?
There are several important things to look for when selecting a solar installer. Find an installer with lots of experience. Choose a solar panel installer from your area, because it is important to have someone who understands your environment and how it affects solar power output. Finally, compare the guarantees and warranties that they offer. We at Whole-Solar will be more than happy to recommend top installers in your area.
Got more questions? Contact us at info@whole-solar.com