Curious about Solar? We have answers for you! Let's dive into the Solar Basics.
What is solar energy?
Solar energy takes advantage of the sun’s rays to generate heat or electricity. It is a renewable resource and unique for its ability to generate energy in a quiet, clean, and consistent manner over long periods of time. A solar thermal system produces heat, and a solar photovoltaic (PV) system is often used to produce electricity.
Why use solar energy?
Solar energy takes advantage of the sun’s rays to generate heat or electricity. It is a renewable resource and unique for its ability to generate energy in a quiet, clean, and consistent manner over long periods of time. A solar thermal system produces heat, and a solar photovoltaic (PV) system is often used to produce electricity.
How does a residential solar PV system work?
A grid-tied solar PV system is designed to interface safely and reliably with the utility grid. Any excess solar production is exported to the grid during the day. At night or during periods of insufficient solar production, the utility grid will seamlessly meet your needs for electricity. An off-grid solar PV system is designed to function independently of the electrical grid. It is often accompanied with a back-up generator and battery storage to function when solar electricity is not being produced by the PV system.
Is my home a good site for solar?
An ideal site for solar would be; Faces true south or close to true south, Has 100% solar access year round, No shading from trees or buildings to the south, Allows a solar array to tilt up to an angle equal to your latitude, Meets several other conditions which may or may not be crucial, such as proximity to a grid connection point, access for installation and maintenance, proximity to sources of dust and soot, roof loading concerns, wiring distances, conformance with local regulations and others.
What is involved in a solar site assessment?
An on-site solar assessment is a crucial part of the planning process. It is done by a solar installation contractor. Often, depending on the driving distance a solar site assessment will be made at no charge. The solar site assessment includes a shading analysis. If the system is to go on the roof, the assessment will include a cursory examination of the roof structure ( a more in-depth engineering analysis may or may not need to happen). It will also look at the roofing material, access requirements, location for the inverter, wiring distances and more. A site assessment looks at the existing meter and for rural sites a look at the transformer.
Is the assessment process for an on-grid system the same as that for an off-grid system?
No, the design process for an independent system (not hooked up to the utility grid) is substantially more involved. It will require a complete load analysis to accurately size the system components such as batteries, charge controller, solar array, etc.
Can I put in my own solar system?
It is generally not recommended. Yes, it is possible for a homeowner to install a solar PV system on a piece of property, which they own and live on. There are specific electric code requirements, industry best practices and significant safety issues that need to be taken into consideration with a grid-tie solar PV system. Many of these systems utilize potentially lethal high voltage DC electricity (up to 600V).
Can I put in a grid-tied solar system larger than my usage?
Alberta’s Mirco-generation Act was designed to allow installations up to the size of the owners annual consumption. In other words, net solar production at the end of a year should not exceed usage. It is common for solar systems to produce more than consumption in the summer months and then less than their consumption during the winter months. Any excess exported to the utility grid will be recorded as a credit.
How much space do I need for a system?
In bright sunlight, a square foot of a conventional photovoltaic module will yield 12 watts of power. That’s a helpful rule of thumb for calculating a rough estimate of how much area you might need.
My building's roof needs replacing soon. Does it make sense to combine the installations?
Yes. If you're planning to replace your roof in the next few years, it may make sense to move that up and install the PV system at the same time as the new roof is going on. Since solar modules can last over 40 years it is in your best interest to not have to remove the solar modules and rack to replace roofing.
How long will my system last?
Typically, the solar modules will last 30 to 40 or more years when installed properly and checked periodically. The only other major part of a grid-tied system is the inverter which will typically last 10-15 years before replacement. Micro-inverters also may have 25 year warranties and be practical in certain systems. Off grid systems contain other components such as batteries which will need to be replaced periodically based on the type of battery.
What are the pros and cons of a tracker?
A Lakeland College Tracker study from 2013 compared two arrays, a stationary array and a dual-axis tracker. With the tracker, the annual output was 31% higher than the stationary array. The tracker also comes with an additional cost 30% higher than the stationary rack. It is also more vulnerable to break down since it has a number of moving parts.
With a solar PV system will I have power if the electricity grid goes down?
No, if the utility grid goes down your solar system will also shut down until the grid is once again available. This is to comply with safety regulations. If power back-up is a concern you should consider a special synchronous inverter with an appropriately sized battery bank.
Is the price of going solar going to drop more?
The price of solar modules has been driven down to the point that there are a significant number of module manufacturers that have gone out of business as the low price of modules is not sustainable. Regarding module pricing we may be bottoming out for a while. The long term prognosis is that, because of economies of scale, prices will continue to drop but probably at a slower rate than we have seen in the last few years. The balance of system costs, such as marketing, system design, labour, permitting, often referred to as “soft costs” will likely trend downward as governments continue to encourage solar development and installers increase installation efficiency. Solar system soft costs in the well-developed German solar market are about one half the size of the soft-costs of North American installations.
How do I get professional design and installation help?
GridZeroSolar can offer any help you need in regards to installation and design. Let us take care of the hard work for you! Contact us for help at any time!
