Solar Electricity for Your Residence
With the cost of electricity progressively escalating and with a climate crisis hovering near, there is no better time to make an investment in solar electric system for your residence.
The Simple SolutionA grid-connected photovoltaic system is one of the simplest, low maintenance investments you can make in your home, as well as for your planet.
A grid-connected photovoltaic system is permanently connected to local power utility electric grid. When the photovoltaic system is not able to produce the necessary power to satisfy the electric demand of a building/house, the local power utility will supply the required energy.
Photovoltaic modules can be installed on roofs, building facades, terraces, car and bus canopies, roofing and so on.
A typical photovoltaic system connecting to the power grid is consisted of:
• PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR MODULES, of which the number and power are dependent on the energy consumption that they have to cover and on the geographical insolation area where they are installed. Solar modules can be connected in series or in parallel to get the target output voltage and current which are required for grid-connected inverter sizing. • INVERTER, which transforming power produced by modules from continuous (DC) into alternate (AC). By doing this, the electric power can be used to suit for different customers applications.
The advantage of a grid-connected system is in eliminating the charging battery which is considered as a main pollutant to the environment and the owner has to pay much for maintenance, so the system is a practical long lasting solution to the problems of environmental protection and energy shortage.
Usually, the power consumption of a typical family can be covered by a photovoltaic system of 2-3 KWp power. A photovoltaic system of 2 KWp occupies a surface of about 16 sq. meter which producing about 2600kWh per year in central Italy.
Adding ValueAdding solar to a residence also adds value and sell-ability to the home. A wise investment is the house that has low and stable utility bills - and eventually - a positive cash flow. More importantly, each kilowatt of power that comes from a solar system instead of a coal plant is just over 2 pounds of carbon saved from escaping into the atmosphere. For a medium sized residential grid tie this means a savings of about $900 and 18,000 pounds of carbon saved each year! This number is staggering and creates a real difference in the pocketbook and on the planet.
Cost and time simplified example of economical pay back
Hypothesis: 3KWp Residential Rooftop PV system (24sqm surface area)
• System cost (estimation): 18.000 EURO + VAT 20%= 21.600 EURO • Central Italy production (3kWp)= 3.900kWh • Profit from selling kWh FV= 3.900 X 0,44 EURO = 1.716,00 EURO • Pay back on energy cost = 3.900 X 0,20 EURO (medium cost to family) = 780 EURO • Total economical advantage per year = 2.496,00 Euro + CO2 avoided emissions: 3.432 kg/year • System return charges time = 21.600:2.496 = 8,6 years • System net output:>12% per year for 20 years • Total proceeds after 20 years: 49.920 EURO If considering a bigger system (for industries, hotels or large investments), it would be more profitable as per KWp system cost is lower while amortization and VAT are also deductibles.
HOW DOES SOLAR PV WORK IN MY HOME?
It's simple...
1. You have the PV panels securely fitted on your roof.
2. A small inverter box is fitted in your loft.
3. Then for safety, the power is passed through your fuse box.
4. A watt-hour meter measures how much energy is producing from your PV system. If you are producing more than you're using, electricity will flow back to the grid and you'll be paid by the local power supplier for all the clean electricity you're giving them. If you're using more than your PV system is producing at any one time, you'll get electricity from the grid, just like normal. So you'll never run short or have to go without.
