Understanding The 5 Critical Components Of Solar Power Systems
Getting clean and pure energy from the sun while combating greenhouse gas emissions sounds like a good plan for any homeowner. Installing solar panels on your home will help you do that, and it will save you energy costs and help you earn as well.
These facts can make any homeowner want to dive into the solar panel system trend, but before doing so, make sure you understand how this new technology works. A solar power supply for your home is an investment, and it is crucial that you know the finer details about it before making that purchase.
Main Components Of Solar Power Systems
The components of solar power systems can be separated into the following five main parts:
1. Solar Panels
The solar panels are the modules you see on residences’ roofs or displayed in fields. They are the key elements of the whole solar power system. There are two solar panels to choose from if you consider getting one for residential solar installations: monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels.
Monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels perform the same. The main difference lies in the type of silicon solar cell that they use. Monocrystalline, from its name, uses a single-crystal of silicon, which makes it more efficient, while polycrystalline solar panels use solar cells made from many silicon fragments melted together.
2. Solar Inverter
This part is in charge of converting the solar panel’s collected energy, called the direct current (DC), into an alternating current (AC) that your home can use.
There are three types of solar inverters:
- Microinverters: These are the most expensive inverters. They are attached to each solar panel and convert energy smoothly even when some panels are under the shade.
- String or centralized inverters: These are your least expensive option, but they can be less efficient. They may produce less power during times when there is shading on the roof.
- Power optimizers: When it comes to pricing, power optimizers are your middle-ground. They are also installed on each panel. They optimize the DC output and then forward it to the string inverter to convert it into AC power.
3. Solar Racking
If you think that solar panels are attached to the roof directly, that is not true. The panels are mounted on racking systems. These racks get attached to the roof and help change the panels’ angle for an optimal degree of sun exposure.
4. Solar Performance Monitoring
Solar performance monitoring is another of the crucial components of solar power systems. Tracking your conversions would be impossible without the solar performance monitoring system. This system displays how much electricity you generate every hour, every day, or each year. It is also powerful enough to identify any performance changes.
5. Solar Storage
Solar storage is the device that reserves all the energy you collect for later consumption. Residents can use this stored energy after sundown, during energy demand peaks, or a power outage. If you have this component, your solar power system can still function even when the sun is down or when the electric grid is not available.
Conclusions
Your solar panel system has one job: to collect sunlight and transform it into electricity. However, solar panels cannot do that work alone. These panels require the help of other components of solar power systems to function properly and fulfill their purpose. Now that you know each of the solar panel system’s features, you can understand the process of how they work together.
If you are looking for solar power supply for your home in Northern California, call us at (408) 779-3333. We have been installing residential solar panel systems in the Bay Area for 25 years, and we are committed to bringing comprehensive solutions that meet your budget and needs.
