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1. What is a solar
photovoltaic system?
2. What is a grid-tied
solar electric system?
3. What is the lifespan
of a photovoltaic system?
4. What is the
maintenance required to keep
a photovoltaic system
operation?
5. How much will it cost
to install a grid-tied PV
system on my home?
6. Why did a PV system
produce more or less energy
than it’s estimated?
7. Does a PV system
produce electricity when it
is cloudy or cool weather?
8. How much roof space
do I need for a photovoltaic
system?
9. What size of a
photovoltaic system do I
need?
10. What if my roof
needs repairs after I’ve
installed solar panels?
11. How does solar
electricity affect the
environment and help offset
climate change?
12. How does Net
Metering work with PV
systems?
13. What is Time of Use
(TOU) metering?
14. What is the payback
period and return on
investment?
15. Will my solar system
need to be inspected by the
building and utility
authority?
16. What happens if
there is a black out?
17. What are the
warranties?
1. What
is a solar photovoltaic
system?
A photovoltaic (or solar
electric) system use PV
cells to convert the
sunlight energy into
electricity by producing
direct current (DC) in
the PV panels. The DC
current is sent to an
inverter that converts
the DC current to
alternating current (AC)
for general use in your
home or business. This
balance of system
components typically
includes a charge
controller, an inverter,
wiring, and a form of
electricity storage such
as batteries. AC
electricity can then be
used to power your
appliances directly, or
feed back to an electric
utility's grid.
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2. What
is a grid-tied solar
electric system?
A grid-tied solar
electric system is
connected directly to
the utility’s grid. A
grid-tied solar electric
system is designed to
meet all or a portion of
your daily electric
energy needs. This
connection allows you to
use electricity at night
or when your system
doesn’t generate enough
power. It also allows
you to send the extra
solar electricity back
to your utility’s grid
for later use.
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3. What
is the lifespan of a
photovoltaic system?
A Photovoltaic system
included the main
component of solar
modules and inverters.
Solar electric modules
have proven long-term
reliability. A
conservative estimation
of the module’s design
lifespan is over 40
years and the inverter’s
is more than 15 years.
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4. What
is the maintenance
required to keep a
photovoltaic system
operation?
Solar electric system is
the solid-state
technology and has no
moving parts.
Therefore, a
solar energy system
requires very little
maintenance.A solar
array should
be rinsed off
with a hose once or
twice a year to clear
the dust or debris that
blocks sunlight to keep
solar modules
efficiency.
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5. How
much will it cost to
install a grid-tied PV
system on my home?
Grid-tied photovoltaic
system final cost
depends on many factors
such as your annual
energy usage, size, type
and configuration of
system, type and
structure
of roof such as material
and pitch, type of
mounting system,
cableand wiring, the
difficulty of
installation, available
rebates and incentives.
The installed cost of a
grid-tied PV system
typically ranges from $8
to $10 per watt. This is
the cost before any
rebates and incentives.
The cost of electricity
from the utility
continues to increase,
while the solar electric
system produces energy
for free. Additionally,
a solar electric system
can increase a home's
value.
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6. Why
did a PV system produce
more or less energy than
it’s estimated?
The PV system will
produce the most power
on a bright day. But the
solar system will
produce electric power
throughout the year even
on cloudy or overcast
days. The PV system may
produce more or less
than it’s estimated.
Annualy weather
condition can affect the
total output of a solar
electric system.
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7. Does
a PV system produce
electricity when it is
cloudy or cool weather?
Yes. Solar electric
systems work in cold
temperatures during
winter months because
cold temperatures cause
an increase in the
conductivity of metals.
The PV system will
continue to produce
electricity during
cloudy weather as well.
But the energy produced
by solar system will be
less than when the sky
is clear and sunny.
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8. How
much roof space do I
need for a photovoltaic
system?
The overall space your
solar electric system
needs depends on the
amount of electricity
you want to generate and
solar panel size. Most
homes require roughly
between 400 ft2 to 800
ft2 roof space
equivalent to a solar
system size of 5-10 kW.
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9. What
size of a photovoltaic
system do I need?
The size of PV system
for your residence
depends on several
factors including the
last a year of your
household electric usage
in kilowatt hours (kWh)
on your utility bills,
roof available space,
orientation, tilt,
azimuth, location,
shading, your utility
rate structure and your
burdget which affect the
efficiency of the
system. Another major
factor is what’s portion
of your electricity you
want to offset. Your
system size
should be equal
to or little less than
your annual kilowatt
hours (kWh) consumption.
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10.
What if my roof needs
repairs after I’ve
installed solar panels?
We’ll come out to
inspect your home prior
to installation and
check to make sure your
roof is in good
condition and is
suitable for a solar
system installation. In
case if your roof needs
repairs after
installation, the solar
panel will be removed
and re-installed. We
provide such service
with a reasonable
charge.
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11.
How does solar
electricity affect the
environment and help
offset climate change?
Coal-fired electrical
power plants are
responsible for 72% of
all sulfur dioxide
emissions in the U.S.
Each 100 kilowatt of
solar electricity
installed offsets up
to 253
megagrams of
carbon dioxide (CO2),
1600 kilograms of
nitrogen oxides and 900
kilograms of sulfur
oxides per year. The
solar electric system
produces a clean,
sustainable and
renewable solar
electricity with no
pollution and it reduces
globe warming and
climate change.
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12.
How does Net Metering
work with PV systems?
Photovoltaic systems are
connected to the utility
grid. In a grid-tied
solar PV system,
electricity can flow
through your power meter
in either direction.
When solar electric
systems generate more
electricity than you’ve
consumed, the power
meter reverses direction
and returns excess
electricity to the grid.
At other times, you may
need to draw electricity
from the utility grid
and it makes power meter
spin forwards.
Basically,
you’re selling
you excess energy to
your utility company
at the same retail rate
that they charge you,
not at he electrical
wholesale rates.
Customers may receive
credits at retail
electricity rates
through this process of
exporting extra
electricity. Your power
meter is typically used
to measure the
difference between the
electricity used and the
electricity produced.
Typically once a year,
the utility company will
charge the difference if
there is more
electricity used than
produced.
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13.
What is Time of Use (TOU)
metering?
A Time of Use (TOU) rate
plan from utility
company bases on the
price you pay for
electricity on the time
of day and the time of
year you consumed. Under
the net metering police,
the power company must
credit you at
electricity retail rates
not wholesale rates for
any extra power you
produce. You typically
pay more for electricity
during peak hours in the
day and pay less during
off-peak hours at night.
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14.
What is the payback
period and return on
investment?
When you invest in a
solar system, you are
essentially pre-pay for
future electricity at
current rates.
Electricity prices in
New Jersey and New York
ware increased almost
every year and the
electricity rates
continue to rise. A
solar system will
typically pay for itself
in around 6 to 7 years.
The solar panels have
over 40 years lifespan.
That’s 30 years of
positive cash flow,
money in your pocket and
free, clean electricity
with no electric bills.
The return on investment
(ROI) varies from 4 to 6
years based on the
future power price, your
rate structure and
household kWh
consumption, rebates,
incentives and tax
advantages.
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15.
Will my solar system
need to be inspected by
the building and utility
authority?
Yes. Solar systems that
receive government
rebates typically
require proof of
approval from the
building jurisdiction.
General and electrical
construction is required
inspection from the
building and utility
authority.
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16.
What happens if there is
a black out?
If there is a black out,
your PV system will turn
off and you will lose
power during
a black out. For a
safety requirement by
the utility company,
their technicians can
repair and fix
electrical lines.
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17.
What are the warranties?
The manufacturers offer
a 25-year limited
warranty on power output
for all modules and a
10-year limited warranty
on inverters. The module
manufacturers warrant
power output for 25
years from the date of
purchase. The first 10
years are at 90% of the
minimum rated power
output and the remaining
15 years are at 80% of
the minimum rated power
output. GreenTech solar
USA offers an additional
5 to 10 years warranty
on installation
and workmanshop.
We will provide you with
all warranty
documentation on your
system.
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