Solar MGM F&Q page
Q. What is the meaning of Photovoltaic ?
Photovoltaic is made up of "Photo" which is the Greek word for Light and "Voltaic" derived from the name Allesandro Volta an Italian physicist known especially for developing electric currents by chemical action and as a result he came to develop the first electric cell in 1800.
Photovoltaics is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity.
Q. How does a Solar Photovoltaic panel work?
Certain type of material called semiconductors produce an electrical current when exposed to the Photons from sunlight.
The Photons hit the solar panel and are absorbed by semiconducting materials, such as silicon and then the light to current conversion process takes place within solar cells. The end result is a DC electrical current. The most common Semiconductor material used is Silicon.
Q. Why is Shading such a big deal?
Without the sun the Solar PV System will not generate the necessary or intended output.
Any obstruction such as a tree, structure, debris, dirt or other poss as an issue that need to dealt with. Should your house or business have a limited exposure to the sun due to a permanent obstruction it will be very possible that you will not be able to install a Solar PV System however Solar MGM will provide you will all possible solutions for you to choose from.
Q. What is a "Grid-Tied" PV Solar System?
This simply means that your PV Solar system is connected directly to your local electric/utility power company or so called "grid". Approximately 97% of PV solar panels installed in the USA are grid-tied systems.
The main advantage of installing such a system its ability to send excess power back to the power grid and receive credit back towards your electrical bill. The excess electricity is created at times where you consume less power then the PV Solar system generates.
This so called "Net Metering" reduces the amount of electricity you must purchase from the utility company and yes your electrical meeter will spin backwards.
More about Net Metering!
A great and useful program currently available in 40 states enabling business and home owners with Photovoltaic system arrays to sell excess electrical power back to the utility company.
The PV Solar system must be Grid-Tied and designed properly.
Yes! at any given time where your Solar Electrical Power System produces more then you consume, your meeter will spin backwards indicating you are feeding the utility power grid with Sun Generated Electricity.
Your account with the utility company will accumulate credit which can be redeemed at times of excess use or other, depending on the provided options with the power company.
A Solar inverter or PV inverter is a type of electrical inverter that is made to change the direct current (DC) electricity from a photovoltaic array into alternating current (AC) for use with home appliances. Many solar inverters are designed to be Grid-Tied, and will not operate when they do not detect the presence of the grid. They contain special circuitry to precisely match the voltage and frequency of the grid.
Q. How much electricity will a system produce?
During our evaluation we will look into some basics:
- Property landscape and structure.
- Energy consumption.
- How much of your monthly bill do you want to offset?
- Budget.
By addressing these and a few more important conditions we will design and mold the best type of Photovoltaic system which will be best suited for your needs.
Q. What happens during a power outage?
Unless you install a PV Solar system with a battery back up or a backup generator during a power outage you will be left without power due to the fact that the inverter/s must detect an active grid power to work.
Q. Should I install a battery-tied PV Solar system?
Adding a backup battery system can add as much as 27% in cost to your new residential solar PV system. When comparing the efficiency of two Identical systems with the same sized solar array the one with a battery-tied will show a loss of 8-10% in its yield.
Solar MGM does not recommend a battery-tied PV Solar System installed unless special needs need to be met. We do recommend installing a backup generator which is part of our service as well.
Q. Do I need a building permit?
Yes you do. Solar MGM will manage all of the permits needed for the job for you.
Q. What is the California Energy Commission (CSI) Rebate Program
The California Solar Initiative offers cash back for installing solar on your home or business.
California is striving to create megawatts of new solar-generated electricity, moving the state towards a clean energy future. And you can help!
Join the thousands of home and business owners who have earned cash back rebates by installing solar energy systems through the California Solar Initiative. Customers earn cash rebates for every watt of solar energy installed on homes, businesses, farms, schools, and government and non-profit organizations.
Please read additional details at the Go Solar California website
http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/csi/index.php
Q. What about Government or other incentives available when going Solar?
The Federal Government has extended the 30% tax credit to the end of 2016. Any qualifying residential or commercial solar system will be provided with additional details. Corporate Depreciation or the Federal (MACRS) and State accelerated depreciation deductions can also significantly reduce the final cost of a system used for commercial applications.
More incentives and options area available depending on your location and which utility provider you are connected to. Solar MGM team will research and present you with all the reasonable incentives available.
Q. Does Solar PV Panels system require maintenance ?
Solar photovoltaic panels require very little maintenance such as removing any debris, making sure there are no obstructions preventing direct sun light. Over the period of a few years it will be wise to inspect and remove accumulated layers of dust.
Q. What if the system cannot be mounted on my roof?
Depending on the terrain your property is on it could be that a ground array would be feasible.
At which point Solar MGM Team will provide you with all possibilities to consideration and evaluate.
