SOLAR ELECTRIC (PV) Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells convert sunlight (photons) into electricity (voltage) via the “photovoltaic effect.” They are made of semi-conducting materials, the most common being silicon, which is the second most abundant element on the planet, exceeded only by oxygen. Solar PV technology has been commercially used since the 1950s and has long been used to power calculators, satellites, road signs, phone call boxes, remote industrial applications, remote homes & cabins, etc. Due to decreasing prices via economies of scale and increasing government support, solar PV is now more cost-effective than ever for residential and commercial applications

Grid tied systems

Grid-tie solar electric systems are installed on homes and businesses where the electricity grid is available. They interface seamlessly with the electricity grid, allowing excess power that is produced from the sun during the day to be sold back to the utility company. When this happens, your electric meter spins backwards to give you retail credit for the electricity you produced. At night or during cloudy weather, your home or business takes power from the grid as normal, thereby spinning your meter forwards again. Each day your electric meter will spin backwards and forwards as part of “net-metering,” which allows you to reduce your electric bill to a “net-zero” on a monthly or annual basis. Going solar is a quick and easy process, requiring no changes to your lifestyle or to the internal wiring of your home or business. Each month, you’ll feel good about your lower electric bill and the positive difference you’re making for our environment.

Battery based systems
	Battery based systems are used in areas where the electric grid is either not available or too costly to access. These systems charge batteries when the sun is shinning and the power is then used as needed through out the day and night as needed.