| Photovoltaic System | | | | everyone "there is less dependency on fossil fuel |
| As people search for alternatives to fossil fuel | | | | power plants" and electricity costs are reduced |
| energy, solar energy emerges as one of the | | | | for owners of photovoltaic systems. |
| cleanest and most practical sources of electricity. | | | | This is called net-metering, the specifics depend on |
| Solar panels can be installed on rooftops or any | | | | your location and utility company. A disadvantage |
| area that receives a lot of sunshine. The solar | | | | of these grid connected systems is that there |
| panels consist of a photovoltaic system that | | | | invertors disconnect in case of a power faillure. |
| converts the energy of the sun into electricity. | | | | This is a quite logical demand from the utility |
| The word Photovoltaic is a conjuction of the old | | | | companies point of view. Their engineers have to |
| Greek word "Photon" meaning light and Volt, the | | | | know for sure that the grid they are working on |
| force that makes electrons move | | | | is really dead. But from our point of view it can |
| Photovoltaic systems have existed since the | | | | be a nuicance. The solution is a grid connected |
| 1950s but only in recent years has the technology | | | | system with battery backup. |
| matured to the point of making it a viable | | | | Photovoltaic cells produce electricity by using |
| alternative to power utilities. Indeed, most solar | | | | specially treated materials such as silicon that |
| systems do not replace the utility company | | | | convert light into power. They can be of almost |
| instead they work in conjunction with it to | | | | any size and are suitable for providing electricity |
| produce extra electricity that can be fed back | | | | for small items such as calculators or watches |
| into the grid. | | | | right up to complete industrial complexes. Because |
| One of the main problems with solar power is | | | | they can be wired together, an array of solar |
| storing it for use during non-daylight hours. | | | | cells can produce enough electricity for residential |
| Batteries can be used but they are expensive and | | | | or commercial needs. |
| have a limited life span. As an alternative, excess | | | | The main requirement, of course, is sunlight. This |
| solar electricity can be fed back to the power | | | | makes solar power most practical for southern |
| utility company for a credit, and then power can | | | | areas such as California and Arizona. But it can |
| be drawn when needed. In a sense, the utility | | | | also be used in more northerly areas as a backup |
| company becomes the storage device. | | | | power system. As the technology advances, |
| Most municipalities have legislation requiring power | | | | photovoltaic cells are able to produce usable |
| utility companies to accept electricity produced by | | | | amounts of electricity even in low light conditions. |
| solar panels or wind turbines. This system benefits | | | | |