Solar Panels 101
We see the sun every day, and now it’s time to start learning about how to use the sun’s power with our homes! We reached out to Ozz Solar to provide a well-rounded 101 guide to solar panels.
To put it simply, solar power is energy that is generated using light from the sun. Solar panels consist of bundles of smaller solar cells. When sun rays make contact with these solar cells, it causes their photons to bounce around, which generates an electrical current.
Each solar panel has a watt (W) rating which is the measure of its power. A typical system on a home or commercial building is rated in Kilowatts (1 kW = 1000W) or Megawatts (1 MW = 1000kW). The electricity that is generated by the solar system is measured in watt-hours (Wh) which is the unit used to measure energy (energy is measurement of power over time). The same multiplier exists for Kilowatt-hours (1 kWh = 1000Wh) and Megawatt-hours (MWh = 1000 kWh).
In Ontario, the solar power that is generated on homes and commercial buildings is typically sold to the local electric utility company and then distributed back into the community. It is beneficial to sell the solar energy, rather than use it to offset your electricity consumption, because the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) offers a premium purchase price for renewable energy through the microFIT (micro Feed-in-Tariff) program. The IESO, a crown corporation that regulates the Ontario energy market, implemented the microFIT program in 2009 as part of the Green Energy Act in an effort to incentivise investments in clean energy. This program offers 20-year contracts to homeowners to sell their solar energy at a fixed rate for solar systems up to 10kW in size. The current microFIT rate is $0.294/kWh, which equates to roughly $3,500 in annual revenue for a 10kW solar system.
Under microFIT the homeowner still receives their usual hydro bill, but also receives a second statement which shows how much their utility is paying them for the solar power that they generate.
Another way to use the solar power generated in a home is to Net-Meter the energy. Net-Metering means that the homeowner sends the solar energy back into the local electricity grid (similar to microFIT), but instead of receiving direct payment for it, it offsets the homeowner’s electrical bill. In this case, the homeowner receives a single bill that shows the energy that is consumed along with the energy that is generated. The local electrical utility company will pay the market rate of electricity for any solar energy that is generated over and above the level of consumption.
The rate assigned to the energy generated depends on the time of day when the energy is generated because the utility assigns the same rate to the energy generated as for the energy that is. Ontario uses Time-Of-Use rates which dictate the prices for each portion of the day and the season. As electricity rates increase over time, the rate that the homeowner receives will change as well.
The entire process to setup solar on a home is generally around 6 months, but the panel installation process only takes about 3-4 days. Most of the time involved in a solar installation is for the regulatory process with the local utility and municipality.
The installation process includes mounting a racking system to the roof, fastening the panels to the racking system and connecting the system to the inverter. Once connected to the inverter, the solar system is then connected to the electrical grid through a revenue meter. This meter allows the utility company to isolate energy generation from energy consumption, in order to determine the appropriate amount of payment for the solar electricity.
Energy storage is starting to become a hot topic as consumers look to become self-sufficient in their energy needs and to provide emergency power in situations like a blackout.
Energy storage can be used as a complement to Net-Metering whereby any energy generated is stored in the battery until it meets capacity, at which point the excess energy is sold to the utility.
Storage options can vary in size and capacity.
If you would like to be notified of storage solutions in your area feel free to sign-up HERE!
What determines if my home can get a solar system?
The three main factors to determine if your home would be a good fit are: (1) how much sun exposure your roof gets; (2) the size of your roof, and; (3) and your home’s ability to structurally support a system.
What is the approximate cost of a solar system?
The price of a solar system can vary depending on the size of the system installed. Homeowners also have options on how they want to go about getting a solar system on their house. To outright purchase a 10kW system costs approximately $29,000.
Financing options may be available that allow you to make monthly payments towards your solar system the same way that most home renovation loans work.
You can also lease your roof space with no upfront cost, and receive ownership of the system after 15 years of operation.
What impact will a solar system have on my home?
In addition to the earnings or savings that your solar system will create, installing solar on your home will increase the value of your home due to the additional source of income. The panels will also protect your roof and extend your shingle’s lifespan.
What happens to my solar system at night? In the winter?
A solar system only generates energy when the sun is up, so there will be no power created at night. In the winter due to the sun being up for less time, your solar system will produce less energy. All solar systems are weatherproof so they can handle snow coverage and rain.
How long does a solar system last?
A solar system is warrantied for performance for 25 years but can last well longer than that (sometimes 30-40 years).
If you have any questions about solar energy in general, or are interested in going solar contact Ozz Solar today at any of the following:
E-Mail: info@ozzsolar.com
Phone: (905) 695-6829
To receive a free consultation for solar on your home go HERE!
