SOLAR PANELS
Solar panels are the star of the show when it comes to renewable energy. For homeowners looking to save money on energy bills or switch to a more sustainable power source, solar panels are a great place to start. Here’s everything you need to know about solar panels, from how they work to how to choose the right panel for your home.
HOW SOLAR PANELS WORK
Solar panels use the sun’s energy to generate electricity. There’s enough light hitting Earth all the time to meet the planet’s energy needs, with plenty left over. At its smallest level, light– and all other electromagnetic radiation– takes the form of a particle called a photon. Think of a photon as a little packet of energy radiating out from a radiation source (like the sun). Photons bounce off of objects or are absorbed, allowing us to see.
Photons have no electric charge by themselves, but solar panels can create it. Solar panels are covered with photovoltaic (PV) cells which absorb photons from sunlight. These PV cells, usually made of silicon, consist of two layers, one positively charged and one negatively charged, stacked on top of each other. When a photon hits the material, it knocks some electrons loose. Those electrons flow and accumulate, creating a DC electric current which get converted into DC power for use in a home, stored in a battery, or passed onto the electrical grid.
Solar panels convert photons into DC energy.
Photons from solar radiation collide with PV cells on solar panels, knocking loose electrons that form a DC electrical current.
Inverter converts DC energy into usable AC power.
The inverter takes the DC current generated by solar panels and converts it to AC power, which is usable in the home.
Excess production is stored or passed back to the grid.
Excess power can either be sent back onto the grid (which usually generates credits through net metering) or stored in a battery.
WHY INSTALL SOLAR PANELS?
SAVE MONEY
Going solar is a great way to cut costs by producing your own power for less than what you buy from your utility.
LIVE MORE COMFORTABLY
Lowering your cost for electricity gives you greater peace of mind and allows you to enjoy more of the comforts
PRODUCE CLEAN POWER
Installing solar panels is a great way to power your life in a more sustainable way and improve the carbon footprint.
AVOID UTILITY RATE INCREASES
By going solar, you can lock in a rate on energy and protect yourself from rising utility costs.
TYPES OF SOLAR PANELS
Monocrystalline vs. Polycrystalline Solar Panels
There are two main categories of solar panel available on the market: monocrystalline and polycrystalline. The difference is subtle, and lies in the type of silicon used in the panel’s cells. Monocrystalline panels use a single crystal of silicon, grown to the proper size for the panel; polycrystalline cells use many small crystals of silicon melded together. Monocrystalline cells are generally more efficient, but are more difficult to produce, and thus can be more expensive. However, as solar technology and production capacity improves, monocrystalline panels are becoming more and more affordable, and are typically more aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, monocrystalline panels have become the more common type of panel used in residential installations.
Monocrystalline Panels
Monocrystalline solar cells (left) are generally more efficient and more aesthetically pleasing, and have become the standard for most residential installations.
Polycrystalline Panels
Polycrystalline panels (left) are less efficient, but cheaper to produce, and were common in residential installations for many years.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SOLAR PANEL
Wattage
The first factor to consider in a solar panel is wattage - the higher the wattage of the panel you choose, the fewer you need to achieve your target energy production - and vice versa.
Manufacturer's Warranty
Evaluate the length and coverage of the manufacturer's warranty for any panels you consider. Most reputable brands offer a 25 year manufacturer's warranty against defects and malfunctions
Degradation Rate
Understand the degradation rate of your solar panels. Degradation occurs in all solar panels due to wear and tear. Most panels degrade at a rate of less than 1% per year.
Aesthetics
The look and feel of the solar panel you choose is important - after all, the panels will be visible on your roof. Many modern panels are available in sleek, black-on-black designs.
NEED HELP FINDING THE RIGHT SOLAR PANEL?
Our team of expert energy consultants is ready to help you evaluate and find your ideal panel
GET THE BEST SOLAR PANELS ON THE MARKET WITH RVRE
RVRE works with the most trusted brands and manufacturers in solar to offer every homeowner the best solar panels for their unique situation. Our expert energy consultants will help you determine the most important factors to consider and identify the solar panels most suited for your installation. See below for some of the solar panel brands and manufacturers we work with.
How much should I pay for solar panels?
The right price to pay for solar panels is different for every homeowner, and depends on a number of factors. Determining the right price starts with an evaluation of energy usage, which will pinpoint the proper target capacity for the system. Once this is determined, the next step is to evaluate usable roof space and sun exposure to identify the number of panels the roof can hold and where to place them for ideal performance. The final step is to consider the panels to use to reach the target capacity of the system in the available roof space.
Following this process will ensure that your system is designed to the correct capacity and delivers the most possible value.
EVALUATE ENERGY USAGE
DETERMINE SYSTEM CAPACITY
EVALUATE ROOF
SPACE
CHOOSE
PANELS
SOLAR PANEL INCENTIVES
Capital Subsidies
Capital subsidies are provided to foster residential rooftop installations both in rural and urban areas. The SRISTI scheme targets solar rooftop installation in urban areas under which residential installations are provided with Central Financial Assistance as follows: • CFA @ 40% for capacity up to 3 kWp • CFA @ 20% for capacity beyond 3 kWp and up to 10 kWp • CFA @ 20% for GHS/RWA capacity up to 500 kWp (limited to 10 kWp per house and total upto 500 kWp) (Domestic manufactured modules and Solar cells to be used only to avail above CFA.)
Accelerated Depreciation
Depreciation is 20 % on plant and machinery for any business and in the case of Solar power generation, in order to incentivize the entrepreneurs to enter into the Solar power generation market, the Government of India has allowed claiming 80% depreciation in year one of the commissioning of the Solar power generation plant. For example: Assuming that the total current project cost is Rs7crores. If a Solar power generation plant costs Rs7crores, the company setting up that plant can claimn 80 % depreciation in the first year itself. Depreciation of 80 % is allowed on plant and machinery of the Solar power plant.
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