Solar Panel Tax Credit

Homeowners interested in installing solar panels on their roofs got a bigboost from the $787 billion economic stimulus package.Homeowners will now be able to get a federal tax credit worth 30percent of the cost of their new solar system even if they're alsoreceiving state or local financing.To find tax credits and other insentives in your area vist...

     Solar System Components

A typical small solar electric, or photovoltaic (PV), system consists of these components:   * Solar cells   * Modules or panels (which consist of solar cells)   * Arrays (which consist of modules)   * Balance-of-system partsAn illustration of a solar cell, a photovoltaic module, and a photovoltaic array. The...

     How Solar Systems Work

Solar electric systems, also known as photovoltaic (PV) systems, convert sunlight into electricity.Solar cells—the basic building blocks of a PV system—consist of semiconductor materials. When sunlight is absorbed by these materials, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms. This phenomenon is called the "photoelectric effect." Th...

     Is Your Site Right For Solar

Considering a Small Solar Electric SystemTo help evaluate whether a small solar electric system will work for you, you should consider the following:-Your available solar resource—do you have clear and unobstructed access to sunlight for most or all of the day, throughout the year?-The system size—do you have a roof or area large enough to accommod...

     Sizing Your Solar System

Sizing Your Small Solar Electric SystemAccurately sizing the components of your solar electric system, also known as a photovoltaic (PV) system, helps ensure that your system will produce the amount of power you want it to produce. This is especially important for stand-alone systems, which are not connected to the electricity grid. However, becaus...

     Codes and Requirements

Each state and community has its own set of codes and regulations that you will need to follow in order to add a small renewable energy system to your home or small business. These regulations can affect the type of renewable energy system you are allowed to install and who installs it. They can also affect whether you decide to connect your system...