Government subsidies and favorable tariffs may be expected to lead to major growth in the number of residential solar installations over the next decade. Energy from the sun, converted to electricity by PV (photovoltaic) panels mounted on residential properties, can provide a substantial proportion of the energy needs for the household. Most of these residential systems remain connected to the conventional electricity utility grid. This allows the home to use conventional electricity during the night-time, and to sell excess solar generated electricity to the utility company during the day-time.
Photovoltaic or PV panels contain many thousands of little silicon chips. Each chip is a semiconductor circuit which generates a small electrical voltage when light falls upon it. The panels provide protection from the wind and rain, and connect many circuits together so that practical amounts of voltage and current are produced.
PV systems also need a couple of other electronic circuits. An inverter circuit is used to convert the energy (direct current electricity, or DC) to the alternating current (AC) needed by the appliances in the home. A special type of electricity meter (a two-way meter) is also normally installed. As well as measuring the electricity used by the home, this also measures the electricity generated by the home and fed back into the utility grid.
There are 2 reasons why the home remains connected to the locality's utility electric grid. Firstly the PV panels do not operate during the hours of darkness, so and energy storage reservoir is needed. Although batteries can be used, it is more convenient in most towns and cities to use the utility grid as the energy reservoir.
Secondly, there may be times when the solar power being produced exceeds the household's requirements for energy. For example, this may happen during sunny days when the family is at work and at school. Grid connected systems can be configured so that this excess energy is fed into the utility grid. With a two way meter in place, and subject to suitable contracts with the utility company, the installation owner will be paid for this excess energy.
The power produced by photovoltaic panels has a substantially lower carbon footprint than the power from oil coal and natural gas (conventional power stations). As governments around the world try to reduce carbon emissions, they often offer subsidies and incentives to homeowners who adopt PV technology.
The incentives on offer are slightly different in each country, but there are two main types. Sometimes installation costs are subsidized either directly through grants, or indirectly through tax breaks. In other countries homeowners are guaranteed that any excess electricity produced and fed into the utility grid will be paid for by the utility company at a favourable rate. This is called a Feed in Tariff system.
Local companies offering solar installations can be expected to offer advice on grants, subsidies and tariffs in your country or locality. As PV panels can provide substantial reductions in utility bills, and government encouragement through subsidies is widely available, it can be expected that the number of deployed systems will grow substantially in the next decade.
Photovoltaic or PV panels contain many thousands of little silicon chips. Each chip is a semiconductor circuit which generates a small electrical voltage when light falls upon it. The panels provide protection from the wind and rain, and connect many circuits together so that practical amounts of voltage and current are produced.
PV systems also need a couple of other electronic circuits. An inverter circuit is used to convert the energy (direct current electricity, or DC) to the alternating current (AC) needed by the appliances in the home. A special type of electricity meter (a two-way meter) is also normally installed. As well as measuring the electricity used by the home, this also measures the electricity generated by the home and fed back into the utility grid.
There are 2 reasons why the home remains connected to the locality's utility electric grid. Firstly the PV panels do not operate during the hours of darkness, so and energy storage reservoir is needed. Although batteries can be used, it is more convenient in most towns and cities to use the utility grid as the energy reservoir.
Secondly, there may be times when the solar power being produced exceeds the household's requirements for energy. For example, this may happen during sunny days when the family is at work and at school. Grid connected systems can be configured so that this excess energy is fed into the utility grid. With a two way meter in place, and subject to suitable contracts with the utility company, the installation owner will be paid for this excess energy.
The power produced by photovoltaic panels has a substantially lower carbon footprint than the power from oil coal and natural gas (conventional power stations). As governments around the world try to reduce carbon emissions, they often offer subsidies and incentives to homeowners who adopt PV technology.
The incentives on offer are slightly different in each country, but there are two main types. Sometimes installation costs are subsidized either directly through grants, or indirectly through tax breaks. In other countries homeowners are guaranteed that any excess electricity produced and fed into the utility grid will be paid for by the utility company at a favourable rate. This is called a Feed in Tariff system.
Local companies offering solar installations can be expected to offer advice on grants, subsidies and tariffs in your country or locality. As PV panels can provide substantial reductions in utility bills, and government encouragement through subsidies is widely available, it can be expected that the number of deployed systems will grow substantially in the next decade.
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