Solar Electric–Photovoltaic

Renewable clean energy from the sun, what could be more perfect?

To make useable electricity from the sun you need solar photovoltaic P.V. panels exposed to the sun. Then you need to convert the D.C. power from the solar panels to A.C. power by employing an inverter. The inverter connects to your meter by means of a safety disconnect. When the sun shines on your solar panels it makes the meter run in reverse. This effectively decreases your overall use of power from the utility.

In Missouri the average solar isolation values (the intensity of sunlight) range from 4.75 to 5.02 kWh/m2/day (kilowatt hours per meter squared per day). That is truly excellent. Germany, which has the highest amount of photovoltaic solar installations in the world, has an average of 3.0 kWh/m2/day. We have equivalent values to Florida, and many parts of California and Texas! That means that every panel installed in Missouri is almost twice as effective as panels installed in Germany.

How does a silicon panel make electricity?

When sunlight strikes the surface of a photovoltaic cell (a semiconductor) it causes the flow of electrons from one side to the opposite side. By wiring the two sides together, a circuit can be created allowing the flow of electrons to produce electric voltage and current. One photovoltaic cell produces nominal power but connecting a number of solar cells together in a module provides usable power. Connecting a number of modules in an array increases this usable power greatly.

Optimization

To optimize the conversion of sunlight to usable power, a photovoltaic solar module needs:
Clear orientation to the southern sky. That is true south, not magnetic south.

On average, a mounted angle should equal your latitude. In Missouri this is approximately 37-39 Degrees from the horizon. For ground mounts it is advantageous to have an adjustable mount with 27 degrees for the summer, and 47 degrees for the winter. This allows for the seasonal effect of the sun being higher or lower in the sky depending on what season it is.

Shading during the solar window (10 AM – 3 PM) should be eliminated. Any shading will greatly degrade the power output of a module- even if it is only covering a couple of cells in the module.

Can you get by with less than an optimal installation?

Sure. We can calculate exactly how much output degradation your system will have if you are not oriented true south or if some shading exists. Special products and methodologies can be used to to compensate for shading and diminish losses.

You can further optimize your solar collection by using a dual access tracking system. These systems are ground mounted and they move in line with the movement of the sun- always keeping your solar array in perfect orientation- both horizontally and vertically.

The Alternative Energy Company has many different solutions to meet your needs. We use only proven technology and products that we customize and professionally install. Contact us for a consultation and estimate.