Frequently Asked Questions
How well do solar panels work in cloudy conditions?
How well do solar panels work in the winter?
What type of maintenance is required on solar panels?
What are the possible problems with solar panels and how can I prevent them?
What kind of inverter do I need?
What is net–metering and is it available in my area?
What is (Feed–in Tariff)FIT Program?
How long will the installation?
What if the roof needs repairs after installing the panels?
Do I need specical wiring in my house?
Can hailstones destroy the modules?
What is solar module?
A solar module or panel, is a group of solar cells all connected together. A solar cell is a compound semiconductor device which changes solar energy into electric energy. Most cells are made from Silicon and is most popular because Silicon is one of the most available compounds on earth. It is readily extracted from quartz sand. Once the cells are made they are connected together to create a panel of varying wattage ratings. The more cells you put together the larger the final panel rating in watts. The most common panels now are around 180 to 220w.
What is energy audit?
This is an evaluation of your buildings energy efficiency. For a home it entails a trained professional coming to your home and documenting the various building envelope energy saving components. For example looking at insulation, weather seals, windows, doors etc. For a large building a professional Engineer is required to do document the building components and enter them into a simulation software package. This allows a mathematical model to be produced of the building. This model is then subjected to the local weather conditions in the simulation and the buildings performance is approximated.
How well do solar panels work in cloudy conditions?
There is a noticeable degradation of performance but electricity is still produced. In some cases even a night with a very bright full moon has been known to show production of electricity.
How well do solar panels work in the winter?
They work better in the clear skies of winter. Solar panel also like the cold weather, of course snow should be cleared off the panels for best production.
What type of maintenance is required on solar panels?
Cleaning in dusty climates
What are the possible problems with solar panels and how can I prevent them?
The main issues with solar panels are vandalism, theft and large hail damage. The first two can be avoided by a good choice of location and the last is to have a good insurance policy in place. There have been issues with the wiring connections so ensure that your installer uses industry standard liquid tight connections.
Do I need a backup battery?
Not if you are selling to the grid (grid-tie) under the FIT program or the Net Metering program. If you wan to have backup power when the grid goes down (no electricity to your home) then you will need to incorporate a battery system.
What kind of inverter do I need?
The inverter choice is quite complex. It must be able to turn on at a reasonable array output, if your system does not get to that output level for some reason (cloud, shadow, undersized) the inverter will not turn on and your system will be useless. Also the inverter needs to be able to handle the maximum output of the array on the best days of the year in your area. If it is too small to handle these high production days it will shut off just when you should be making the most power. So it is not an easily answered question and you should discuss with a professional and do some research if you are designing your own system.
What is net-metering and is it available in my area?
A grid connected net-metered solar or wind system produces power and sends it to the grid. This is like getting a credit for that amount of power. When your system cannot deliver the amount of energy you need the utility makes up the difference and debits your energy account. At the end of the month if you have produced more than you used then you usually have one year to use up your credit. You do not get paid for the electricity you only get a kwh credit. This means that you can reduce your bill to zero over the year but you will not get a payment for any extra. Net metering is available in most of Ontario, but please call your local electricity provider to confirm. See the FIT program question below for ways to get paid for your electricity produced.
What is (Feed–in Tariff)FIT Program?
The FIT program introduced by the OPA ( Ontario Power Authority ) is a pay for electricity program designed to encourage renewable energy projects small and large. For example if you put a 10Kw system on the roof of your home or business the OPA will pay you $.802/kwh for the electricity it produces. Most places in Ontario pay about $.12/kwh for their electricity. So this is a very good proposition and it can make you money every month. If you install one of these systems on your roof, you can use the cash it produces to pay your utility bills and live virtually free in your home. For more information on this please explore our site to view solar pv oppoturnities in Ontario.
How long will the installation take?
Well this depends on system size, roof type, access, cable run, local hydro authority involvement, permitting, building support structure etc. If everything goes well then physical installation of 10Kw system on a single roof should take 2 to 3 days.
What if the roof needs repairs after installing the panels?
The panels can be removed from the racking and get access to the roof. If you chose a reputable racking manufacturer this will be easily accomplished and this is one of the design criteria API uses in selecting our racking.
Do I need special wiring in my house?
All wiring should come with the system and it should be installed by a certified electrician.
Can hailstones destroy the modules?
Yes they can. Most modules are warranted up to 3/4 inch hail.
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement between nations that is aimed at reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and reducing the amount of greenhouse gases. Current theories state that the "Greenhouse Effect" is a dire predicament Earth is facing as rising temperatures occur all over the Earth. This rise in temperature will allegedly cause climactic changes and the extinction of many species. One of the many ways it encourages environmental stewardship between first world nations and other nations is the Carbon Credit Mechanism (CDM). API can help you understand the implications to your business, just click here.