Solar 101

Typically, when you see a solar panel on a roof, it is a photovoltaic (PV) panel and covered with a tempered glass enclosure to protect it from the elements. Assemblies of solar cells are used to make solar panels, solar modules, or photovoltaic arrays.
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A solar electrical system has to have full exposure to sunlight where the installation will be. The entire solar panel must be exposed to the sunlight for the panels to work properly. If there is plenty of sun available, harnessing the sun’s energy can be done by putting together just a few components. A solar system can be designed from either perspective – how much power is needed or how much money to spend.
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Typically, when you see a solar panel on a roof, it is a photovoltaic (PV) panel and covered with a tempered glass enclosure to protect it from the elements. A solar cell or PV cell (usually made from silicon) is a device that converts light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. Assemblies of solar cells are used to make solar panels, solar modules, or photovoltaic arrays.
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Once you get your solar panels installed, you will find them fairly maintenance free. Many factors affect the energy your solar panels produce, cleaning them is the easiest and best solution. Over time solar panels will get covered with pollution, dust, grime, and bird droppings. These obstructions block sunlight and will reduce power production. According to National Renewable Energy, solar energy loss can range as high as 25% in some areas. When solar panels are not cleaned, an increase in power generation on the inverters is immediately seen.
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The solar panel efficiency rating measures what percentage of sunlight hitting a panel gets turned into electricity. High efficiency doesn’t mean better, it just means you use less space for the solar array. Efficiency isn’t usually a big concern unless there is an unusually small space for the solar panels. The typical solar panel efficiency rating is around 14-18% efficient. That might not sound like much, but this average will produce enough power with the typical roof space.
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There are many elements that affect the length of a battery’s life. The manufacturer will always provide the expected life years along with the other battery specifications. Your battery could live anywhere from 5 to 15 years. Generally speaking, you will need to replace it at least once in your solar system’s 25-30 year life span.
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Floating solar panels perform 5 to 15 percent better than the traditional roof panels. Water helps to regulate the heat absorbed by these panels daily. See how a reservoir located on the western part of Singapore today boasts of a 60 megawatt-peak solar photovoltaic that stays afloat to improve the climate control efforts, given the constraint of smaller lands to build such facilities on ground.
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If you have a system that is producing above your needs, a battery gives you the ability to nearly-exclusively use energy produced by your solar system while also selling extra energy produced to the city, increasing your return on investment.

If your system is not producing enough, however, you can still benefit from the addition of a battery storage system. Using the utility time of use optimization will ensure all the electricity you need from the city or utility provider is bought during off peak hours.
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There are many items you should consider when determining what power output is needed from your new solar system. On top of your energy consumption, you also need to calculate the potential power output for each solar panel. Explore your energy needs, determine your solar potential and evaluate the various financing options available in this article.
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While seasonal effects can be complicated, there are few fluctuations in efficiencies when it comes to solar systems in Arizona. You may need to adjust the tilt of your panels twice a year to account for the seasonal variations in the angle of the sun. Arizona is lucky to be located so far south. With a vast number of sunny, cloudless days and mild temperatures most of the year, it is a premium location for solar installations.
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Lead acid batteries in solar systems have an efficiency rating of 80 to 85%. On the other hand, lithium ion batteries have an efficiency rating of 95%. Another bonus of high efficiency batteries is that they charge faster. When these are used with a microinverter, the performance is further boosted.
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With new developments and improvements to solar cell technology the cost of installation has gone down. In only ten years, the cost of installation has fallen 65% from $8.50 per watt to less than $3 per watt. Generally speaking, dollar per watt is how you will see solar installers communicate the system price.
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Solar panels are highly fragile and brittle. Any unintended body weight on top of a panel could be very harmful, even causing the panel to crack or break. A professional cleaner is recommended as you can risk damaging them with an abrasive brush or toxic chemical.
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