Technical Information
A PV cell consists of two or more thin layers of semi-conducting material, most commonly silicon. When the silicon is exposed to light, electrical charges are generated and this can be conducted away by metal contacts as direct current (DC). The electrical output from a single cell is small, so multiple cells are connected together and encapsulated (usually behind glass) to form a module (sometimes referred to as a "panel"). The PV module is the principle building block of a PV system and any number of modules can be connected together to give the desired electrical output. PV equipment has no moving parts and as a result requires minimal maintenance. It generates solar electricity without producing emissions of greenhouse or any other gases, and its operation is virtually silent.
The solar PV modules generate Direct Current (DC) which must be converted into Alternating Current (AC) for use within your home. An Inverter is used to convert the electricity from DC to AC. This looks a bit like a small meter box and is usually located in your attic or plant room (generally as close to the panels as possible) Solar PV systems are rated in kilowatts (kW). A 1kW solar PV system would require 3 or 4 solar PV panels on your roof (or perhaps in your garden or other suitable location). The generated electricity feeds any electrical loads in your home, and any excess can be stored (in a battery, or perhaps diverted to your hot water cylinder) or exported from your house into the national electrical grid for general use.
The main area of interest in Ireland today is PV systems that are connected to the electricity grid. With a grid-connected system, power can be taken directly from the PV panels when it's needed on site and when generation exceeds demand, it is exported to the grid for general use. In times of demand exceeding generation, such as at night when sunlight is absent, we can import electricity from the grid. So in effect, the grid is acting as a solar electricity storage system for the homeowner, which means the PV system does not need to include battery storage. All this is done completely seamlessly by the advanced equipment which we would provide as part of a system installation
PV systems are fitted to buildings in many different ways. The most common, most practical and simplest installation is that on a sloped roof, where modules can easily be mounted using metal frames. PV systems can also be incorporated into the actual building fabric, eg. Some PV panels actually double as roof tiles, blending perfectly into the roof. PV can also be incorporated as building facades, canopies and sky lights amongst many other applications.
For more information on a solar PV for your home, please contact us here or call our dedicated sales team on (098) 42699.