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APPLICATIONS OF SOLAR POWER

Solar Electric

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Solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) systems create electricity that can be used in your business or home to run lighting, central air conditioning and appliances just as you would use the power from your utility’s electric grid. There are three distinct ways to hook up PV systems: direct grid-tie, grid-tie with back-up, and stand alone. We specialize in direct grid-tied systems because only grid connected PV systems currently qualify for state and federal incentives.

Solar electric or PV technology converts sunlight directly into electricity. Sunlight hitting the solar electric array installed on a rooftop (ground or pole mount options available) generates direct current (DC). The panels in the solar array are wired in series and in parallel. The panels wired in series, called strings, are connected via junction boxes and conduits to the inverters. The inverter changes the direct current into alternating current (AC), matching the frequency and voltage supplied by your utility. When your electric usage exceeds the generation capacity of your PV power system, your utility company provides electricity as usual. On days when your solar power generation exceeds your usage, you can actually see your electric meter spin backwards as you gain credit from your utility company for the excess power that you produce.

 

Solar Thermal

Solar Thermal, also known as Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW), can help reduce the cost of making hot water by 50-75%. Solar thermal collectors on the roof absorb the sun's heat and transfer it into a solar storage tank adjacent to your existing hot water heater with the help of a small circulating pump.

The solar storage tank uses a coil shaped heat exchanger to transfer the heat into the potable cold water coming into the building. A controller turns the circulating pump on when there is sufficient heat to transfer from the collectors to the storage tank. At night the pump remains off to avoid losing heat to the collectors.

Solar thermal solutions are great for homeowners that may not be eligible for PV systems, as they require less space on the roof, a smaller out of pocket investment, and are less affected by shading. Solar Domestic Hot Water systems directly reduce consumption of fossil fuels by preheating water. Although state rebates are not applicable to solar thermal systems, federal and state tax credits are available.