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Solar Home PV -
Photovoltaic Systems
This page explains the PV (Photovoltaic) solar systems,
for electricity production.
See also, for other uses of solar systems:
Solar
water heating systems
Solar home space heating
Solar home space cooling
PV
home and non-home uses
Photovoltaic (PV) cells are used to produce electricity for
residential use, but also in diverse
non-home applications:
calculators, watches, parking meters, lighting in caravans,
nautical instruments, etc.
PV grid-connected systems
Most PV solar systems
are on-grid systems. See, for details:
On-grid Solar and wind systems.
Stand-alone systems
A stand alone PV energy system is not connected to a wider
public or private grid. In this case it responds only to the
need of its owner. The stand alone
systems can be more expensive due to the need of home batteries for
storing the energy.
Stand-alone
PV solutions are popular in remote areas, where connection to
public electric grid is expensive or impossible.
See: Wind and Solar
stand-alone systems.
PV systems in non-sunny climates
Many people assume that installing a photovoltaic (PV) system is
restricted to sunny climates and regions. Obviously, sun
resources are important, but PV systems aren't only a solution
for sunny states and regions.
Solar thermal and photovoltaic devices depend
basically on sunlight (and not on temperatures).
See, for more information:
Solar Resources and
electricity production
PV solar components
There are
five basic
components of a residential solar system, in the case of a
PV system (for electricity production): a solar array (a set of
solar panels), the
inverter, the batteries, the in-home solar power monitor and the
electric meter.
PV Solar Modules
Solar modules collect the sun's energy and convert it into
electricity. The number of modules (connected to form a
rooftop array) depends on how much electricity is required.
PV (Photovoltaic) Inverter
The inverter converts the electricity generated by PV solar
modules to alternating current (AC) ready to be used by
consumers.
PV Photovoltaic Monitor and Electric Meter
The PV Monitor allows to view the status
of the installed system and its performance. The Electric Meter
displays power usage.
Batteries on
Photovoltaic Solar Domestic
Unless all the electricity is
channelled to the grid (and the residence imports the
electricity from the grid system) the PH Photovoltaic demands a
storage system for home energy appliances, tools,
lights, etc.
See: On-Grid Systems and
Net Metering
Costs of PV systems in domestic uses
Solar hot water systems are cheaper than solar PV systems. According to some estimations
solar average hot water systems cost around $3,000-$6,000 per
home while a PV system may cost 5 times more. PV systems involve
a set of components that solar hot water systems dispense.
Obviously, the amounts above are just mere references valid to
average residential uses.
Alternatives to PV systems
PV systems is becoming a competitive solution for electricity
generation. But there
are other alternatives that may be
considered, namely wind energy.
PV manufacturers
There are many PV manufacturers.
Sharp Solar is the major manufacturer, but there are many
other, most of them well known multinationals.
To see a wide list of solar systems manufacturers:
Solar Power Systems
Manufacturers
See
also:
Sizing Solar Systems
See also:
Basics of
solar systems
Domestic Solar Hot Water Systems
Pros and Cons of Solar
Energy Panels
Costs and payback of
Solar Energy
Solar Panels Technology
Quotes and the
buying process
Market and Prices of Solar Hot
Water Systems
Market and Prices of Solar PV
Electricity
Manufacturers of Solar
Power Systems
What to ask to installers and
suppliers
Back to top Solar Domestic Pv Photovoltaic Systems
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