To help evaluate whether a small solar electric system will work for you, you should consider the following: Your available solar resource—do you have clear and unobstructed access to sunlight for most or all of the day, throughout the year? The system size—do you have a roof or area large enough to accommodate it? The [...]
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How Small Solar Electric Systems Work
Solar electric systems, also known as photovoltaic (PV) systems, convert sunlight into electricity. Solar cells—the basic building blocks of a PV system—consist of semiconductor materials. When sunlight is absorbed by these materials, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms. This phenomenon is called the “photoelectric effect.” These free electrons then travel into a [...]
Small Solar Electric Systems
A small solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system can be a reliable and pollution-free producer of electricity for your home or office. And they’re becoming more affordable all the time. Small PV systems also provide a cost-effective power supply in locations where it is expensive or impossible to send electricity through conventional power lines. Because [...]
