| Question 6: How much power
will my Solar Energy System generate? |
Solar Energy Systems are usually marketed in prices per
Watt Peak.
A 1 Kilowatt (1000 Watts) Peak System will generate nearly
1000 kilowatt hours (KwHrs) per year of energy
in cloudy climates (e.g. Northern Europe, Canada, Northern
Japan) and up to 2,000 kilowatt hours in sunny climates
(e.g. the sunbelt States of USA, Brazil, Mediterranean Countries,
Africa, India, Australia).
The advantage of Solar Energy Systems is that they can be
configured to virtually any power load. The actually size
of your Solar System is totally up to you!
A typical home (1,500-2000 square feet) uses around 10,000
kilowatt hours of electricity per year.
It is normal for
Solar Modules to have useful lives of 20 years or more.
Other parts of the Solar Energy System, like the Inverters,
may require replacement on more regular intervals (say
every 5 years). Ask your Solar Retailer for details.
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| Question 7: How much will
my Solar Energy System cost? |
A 1 kilowatt Peak System costs can vary from US $8000 to
$12,000 or Euro €8,800 to 13,200 before
sales taxes and any government program assistance.
Plan on about another US $1-2,000 or Euro €1,100-2200 for installation
costs. If you want to get a guide for the prices of Solar
Energy products, click here.
The Solar Module itself represents about 50% of the total
cost and usually warranted for 20 years or longer. Other
parts of the System will often be warranted for shorter
periods. Where Government program is in place, expect a
warranty on the total Solar System of about 5 years.
Working on a 20 year
life for the Solar System, and including the cost of finance,
Solar Energy translates to around 30-40c/kwhr* in sunny climates
and 60-80c/kwhr in cloudy climates.
This is before taking into account any rebates that might
be available, which can cut these rates by 50% or more.
If you exclude financing costs with a program that reduces
the cost by 50% reducing the above electricity rates to
15-20c/kwhr in sunny climates and 30-40c/kwhr
in cloudy climates.
* numbers less than this have been achieved
when part of a major Utility purchase program.
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Test your
Solar Energy knowledge
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What is a Solar
Energy System?
A Solar Energy System
includes all the parts required to put a fully functioning
energy system together.
What are the main
parts of a Solar System?
If you are not connected to the electricity grid, the
main parts are the solar module, the battery, the battery
regulator (also known as a Charge Controller), attachment
structure and associated connections and wiring.
If you are connected to the electricity grid, the main
parts are the solar module, an Inverter (which translates
the Direct Current power to Alternating Current), associated
wiring and support structures
What does Balance of Systems (or BOS) mean?
This is jargon often used in the Solar Industry! It just
means all the parts of the Solar System excluding the
Solar module itself.
Have you heard more jargon or technical terms you don't
understand?
Try our on site Glossary.
Will my Solar
System generate electricity on cloudy days?
Yes. Even on cloudy days, the solar panels capture insolation
from the sun. The Solar Energy retailer will size your
solar system to take account of this.
What happens at
night?
If you are not connected
to the grid, the modules are used to charge batteries,
which act as your energy storage. Modules and batteries
in combination provide round the clock energy.
If you are connected to the electricity grid. You can
draw on the solar energy during the day, while switching
to the grid during the night. You also have the option
to set up the Solar Energy System with batteries to free
yourself totally from the grid.
Can I put my Solar
Energy System anywhere?
We always recommend
a location that is free of shade. For best energy performance
in the Northern Hemisphere, the solar modules should be
orientated to the south. In the Southern Hemisphere, they
should be orientated to the north.
The System can be retrofitted over a roof structure or
integrated as part of the main roof structure in a manner
that is visually appealing.
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| Question 8: Where can I find
out about programs that reduce the cost of Solar Energy? |
It is important to
check with your local Utility, Government Energy Office
and Solar Retailer to find out whether there are rebates
available to you.
Many people question why Governments and Utilities are offering
rebates after the failed experiments of the 1970s. It's
not just about the environment, it's about sound economics.
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| Question 9: Are all Solar
Systems the same? |
Most Solar Manufacturers
specialize in making the individual parts of a Solar System.
Some of the major module Manufacturers are now starting
to market standardized Solar Systems. Nonetheless, the majority
of Solar Systems are customized by the Sales Companies (also
known as "Integrators" or "Dealers"
or "Installers").
Products are usually constructed to National or International
Standards. You should ask whether the Solar Module has UL
(Underwriters Laboratories, a United States
qualification body) or IEEE (Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers) or IEC (International Electrotechnical
Commission) certification.
It should have at least one of these qualifications.
You might hear people
mention Polycrystalline solar cells, verses Monocrystalline
solar cells verses Thin films. Polycrystalline cells
and monocrystalline cells (which account for around 90%
of sales) have very similar energy output.
The attraction of thin film cells is that they may offer
a lowest cost per Peak Watt. However, their cell efficiencies
are lower and therefore for an equivalent energy output
require more space. Thin films may be an attractive solution
if you have no space limitations.
A typical Monocrystalline Solar Module will require about
150 square feet of space for a 1 Kilowatt System.
If you are using a Thin Film Solar module, you should approximately
double the space requirement. |
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