Return on Investment (ROI)
Solar power systems ROI depends on a multiple of factors. First and foremost is the size of the array and the overall power consumption you currently have. For an example, if you have a 3000 sq ft home and a roof large enough to handle an 8kw solar array, then your return will be about 5 to 10 years. If you were to have an energy audit done and learn how to make your home use less energy, then your return will be quicker. If you have a large south facing roof with good sun exposure and can fit a solar array larger than 12 kw, then you will get more out of your system and therefore pay it off quicker. Cutting your electricity consumption in either case will make your return come sooner.
Other items that will help your return would be the amount of tax incentives or rebates from your utility supplier. Obviously, the less you pay for the system up front, then the quicker you will see a return. There are many ways to find out about the tax rebates and government programs available to supplement the cost for installing renewable energy. R Squared Renovations can help lead you in the right direction to get the most bang for the buck when it comes to installing a solar system.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for a solar system is anyone who wants to save money on their electricity bill or concerned about the size of their carbon foot print. The amount of space you have for the array is also a major factor for making the decision to use solar. Photovoltaic arrays work best when installed facing south, southwest, or southeast and the more of that area that is not shaded, the better your system will perform. If you live in a heavily treed area or in the shadow of other buildings or obstructions, your site may not be ideal but still a candidate. PV systems are usually best suited for a slanted roof. There are many different ways of supporting the array depending on the type of roof material you have that will not disrupt the performance of your roof. In fact, when you cover a roof with a solar array, the elements are shielded from your roof in turn lengthening the lifespan of it. If you have a flat roof then you would use mounting racks that hold the solar panels at the appropriate angle to the sun to get the most out of your system. On the flat roof systems, the racking is usually installed on the roof without making any penetrations and ballasted to keep the array from blowing over or moving around in windy conditions. There are also racking systems intended to be used on the ground, so if you don’t have a good spot on your roof but do have an open piece of land, then you could install the array on angled racks or poles. Most of time there is a way to install a photovoltaic array to capture the suns energy.
Grid Tied
Photovoltaic systems are most commonly used in a grid tied manner where the solar system is tied directly to the power company’s’ electrical grid. This allows the system to operate without batteries and during the night or on cloudy days the power needed comes from the power company and during the day or when the PV system is producing you are using power from there. Also when the solar system is making power and your consumption is less than what it is producing, then you are putting power back onto the grid making your electric meter run backwards, giving you a credit with your electric supplier. These systems are tied to the grid through an inverter that senses when the PV array is making power so when the sun goes down and your system stops making power it turns off. Then, in the morning when the sun comes up, it turns back on. The inverter also knows if the utility company has lost power and will turn off then to prevent the PV system from putting power onto a damaged grid and endangering the line workers making the repair. Some inverters can be connected to software that will monitor the amount of electricity your PV System produces and that can be calculated into dollars saved.
Off Grid
In remote areas where there is no electrical grid, a photovoltaic solar system can meet all of you consumption needs by the use of batteries and a back up generator. These systems operate the same as a grid tied system but instead of putting excess power back onto the grid they store the energy in a bank of batteries so you can have power when the sun is not shining. The best way to set up an off grid system is to have enough battery power to last 3 to 4 days without any production from the PV array. If there is a time that exceeds that timeframe, then the generator will come on to charge the batteries keeping you in power. In an off grid system, it is important to manage your electricity use as efficiently as possible. Off grid systems can also be used for reasons other than a home or building, such as water pumps, security lights and electric gates that are in remote areas.
