Updated December 21, 2006
Questions
(Please click within question text to be directed to answers.)
- What is a solar electric or photovoltaic system?
- Is my home or business a good place for a PV system?
- Do I have enough roof area?
- What size PV system do I need?
- How much electricity will a PV system produce?
- What is a kW (kilowatt)?
- What is a kWh (kilowatt-hour)?
- How much does a PV system cost?
- Are there Cleaning and Maintenance Costs?
- Is an incentive program available?
- Are tax incentives available?
- What about permits and codes?
- What are Utility Interconnection Standards?
- What is Net Energy Metering?
Q1. What is a solar electric or photovoltaic system?
Answer: Solar electric or photovoltaic technology uses the sun’s energy to make electricity. Photovoltaic technology produces electricity directly from the electrons freed by the interaction of sunlight with semiconductor materials (typically silicon). The electrons are collected to create electricity.
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Q2. Is my home or business a good place for a PV system?
Answer: First consider how much sunlight your property receives. Your property should have a clear, unobstructed access to the sun for most of the day, and throughout the year.
In California, the sun is in the southern half of the sky and produces more PV electricity than in the northern part. Shading will reduce the amount of electricity your system will produce.
The best orientation for a PV system is on a south-facing roof. Roofs that face east or west may also be acceptable. Flat roofs can also work because the PV array can be mounted on frames tilting southward. A PV array can also be mounted on the ground.
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Q3. Do I have enough roof area?
Answer: The amount of roof space needed to roof-mount a solar system is based on the size or generating capacity of the system. Residential systems can vary in size from 50 square feet to 1,000 square feet. A rule of thumb is that a square foot of PV module area produces 10 watts of power in bright sunlight. For example, a 2,000-watt system would require about 200 square feet of roof area.
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Q4. What size PV system do I need?
Answer: Several factors will influence the size of the PV system. Considering your present electricity needs is a first step in determining the appropriate size. A PV vendor will be able to assist in this area.
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Q5. How much electricity will a PV system produce?
Answer: In California, a PV system will produce the most electricity in spring through fall when sunlight hours are the longest and the sun is positioned higher in the sky. A 1 kW system can produce from 1,400 kWh to 2,000 kWh per year depending on the location within the state. Generally, a PV system in the southern part of the state will produce more energy than in the northern part of California.
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Q6. What is a kW (kilowatt)?
Answer: A kW is basic unit of measure of real electric power or a rate of doing work. A kW is 1000 watts.
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Q7.What is a kWh (kilowatt-hour)?
Answer: A kWh is a basic unit of energy consumption. For example, ten 100W light bubs burning for one hour will consume 1000Wh of electricity, or 1 kWh.
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Q8. How much does a PV system cost?
Answer: Prices vary depending on many factors. These factors include the mounting configuration, PV system efficiency, and size of the system. Typically, the installed costs are determined based on the size of the PV’s output. The “cost per watt” ($/watt) is often used for comparing systems of different size.
It is difficult to predict how much an individual PV system will cost. However, it is not uncommon to see prices in the range of $6-$10 per watt. For example, a 1,000 watt system could cost $6,000 to $10,000.
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Q9. Are there Cleaning and Maintenance Costs?
Answer:PV outp
