Installing solar panels requires electrical and construction work. With this type of work comes safety concerns, and as such, your local government and utility company need to ensure that your solar energy system meets specific electrical and building codes before it goes live.
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Do solar panels work in the winter? Solar snow performance explained
Memories of cold, snowy winters past can be discouraging even for the hardiest homeowner. If you’re considering going solar, you might be wondering whether solar panels and snow are a bad combination. On the contrary, EnergySage marketplace data has indicated that solar shoppers can often find the lowest quotes during winter months when competition is reduced. After all, if you look at solar as an investment, then it should be able to generate returns throughout the year as other investments do. Luckily, plenty of people have both solar panels and snow, and some of the most popular regions in the U.S. for solar have snowy winters. Don’t let winter weather discourage you from going solar!
Continue readingSolar interconnection: what you need to know
There are a number of important steps along the path to installing solar: obtaining quotes, choosing your equipment, selecting an installer, and the actual installation itself. Arguably the most important step is connecting your solar energy system to the utility grid, commonly known as solar interconnection.
Continue readingWhat is a kilowatt-hour (kWh)? What is a megawatt-hour (MWh)? The difference between kWh and kw (and MWh and MW)
If you’ve been thinking about your energy costs lately, you may be looking into energy efficiency upgrades for your home such as installing solar panels, adding smart thermostats or pursuing an EnergyStar home certification. And when comparing various energy solutions and the prices for new options, you’re going to hear one metric used incessantly: kilowatt-hour (kWh). So what exactly does a kWh mean and how does it differ from a kilowatt (kW)?
Continue readingHow Does Solar Energy Work?
Solar energy is produced when sunlight strikes solar panels, which then turn solar power into usable electricity. This photovoltaic transformation is the way solar energy is generated. In this article, we’ll look closely at how a home solar system converts power from the sun.
Continue readingHalf-cut solar cells: an overview
Solar technology is improving across all facets of the typical solar installation. In this article, we’ll discuss half-cut solar cells, a variation on standard silicon solar cells that can help improve solar panel performance.
Continue readingSolar panels on flat roofs: top 3 things you need to know
Solar is a smart energy decision for homes and businesses with flat roofs, but there are a few considerations you’ll need to keep in mind as you go through the installation process.
Continue readingPERC solar cells: an overview
Solar cell technology is always evolving and improving. PERC solar cells are a relatively new innovation in the solar industry – in this article, we’ll dive into what PERC solar cells are and how they impact solar panel technology.
Continue readingHow do solar panels work at night and on cloudy days?
If you’ve been wondering “do solar panels work at night or on cloudy days?, you’re certainly not alone. While they don’t work at night, you will still be able to use excess electricity depending on your system. On cloudy days, they will still be able to work, generating 10-25% of their normal power output.If you choose to rely on solar panels for your home electricity use, it’s important to understand how solar panels can be a reliable source of power during night time when there is no available sunlight.
Continue readingAre solar panels waterproof?
Solar panels spend their lifetime of more than 30 years outside in the elements. Almost always, rooftop or ground-mounted solar array will have panels exposed to rainy, wet weather, meaning panels need to be waterproof in order to keep producing power for many years.
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