A solar electric (or photovoltaic) system takes sunlight and converts it into usable electricity. This is the form of solar that most people are familiar with. Any time the sun is shining, electricity is generated by the PV panels. An array of photovoltaic (PV) panels is utilized to generate a DC voltage which is later converted to AC via an inverter. Solar PV systems can generate up to 100% of the energy needs for a home or small business. And any excess energy can be sold back to the utility company if the owner has a grid tied system and happens to live in a net metering state (click here to look up net metering details for your state). The systems are extremely low maintenance, very reliable, and guaranteed for up to 25 years! There are many possible configurations for a solar PV system, and we can help you determine the best one for you based on your requirements, budget, and space available for the panels.

When deciding on a PV site, it is important to choose a location with south facing exposure and that is free from shade. Installing panels in a shady area can greatly affect the efficiency of the panels. The modules can be installed on a roof, in a field, practically anywhere that gets great sunlight exposure. Each panel typically outputs about 200W per hour of sunlight. So, the amount of energy that you can generate with a PV system is going to depend on how many panels you can fit on your site as well as your budget. Not everyone has the available space and budget to supplement their entire energy bill with solar PV, however supplementing at least 20% can be easily achieved on most sites.

There are 2 basic types of solar PV systems, grid tied and off grid:

Grid Tied

A grid tied system is one that is, as it sounds, still tied to the grid. So, on a rainy day when your PV system might not be generating much electricity, you can still pull power from the grid. And, on a really sunny day when your PV system might be generating more electricity than your house or business needs, then you can pump that extra electricity back into the grid. You can either be paid for each kWh produced or receive a credit on your utility bill for every kWh that is generated and sent into the grid. Grid tied systems are the most frequently installed solar PV systems and are also cheaper than off grid systems.

Off Grid

An off grid system allows you to be completely independent of the power company, generating your own electricity and storing it in batteries. The home or business then pulls its electricity from the batteries instead of from the grid. Off grid systems are more expensive than grid tied systems due to the extra material and installation costs associated with incorporating the extra elements like batteries, charge controllers, etc.

Green Point sells and installs all major solar PV brands on the market, including brands such as Evergreen Solar, Kyocera, and Sharp. All panels are extremely reliable and durable with 20-25 year manufacturer guarantees.

Please feel free to contact us at greenpoint@tds.net or by filling out the form on our Contact Us page with any questions or pricing estimate requests.