Solar Electricity
GreenSource Energy Solutions is your local source for a full range of solar electric (photovoltaic) solutions. Whether you need a small module for a DIY project or a complete system to power your home, we can advise you on which options may best meet your needs.
Full-scale solar electric systems take many forms, but most are comprised of photovoltaic (PV) modules for transforming the sun’s energy into direct current (DC) electricity, an inverter to change DC power to the AC power used in most homes and offices, and proper disconnects and over-current protection (common in any electrical system). The diagram below illustrates a basic solar electric system.
With these basic components, you can generate electricity and feed it to your household circuits, as well as send any excess electricity you make back to the grid.
For a brief overview of how to determine the right solar electric system for you, to learn about net metering, and get an idea of the finances involved, click here.
Types of solar electric systems
- Custom Grid-Tie Systems
Grid-tied solar electric systems integrate your solar system with both your household circuits and the electric utility grid. These systems allow you to maximize use of all available electricity generated by your solar system, and draw any additional current as needed from the grid (for example, at night). If you generate more electricity than you use, the excess is fed back into the grid and you receive a credit on your account from the utility. However, because it is tied to the grid, if power goes out, your solar system must shut down, too. This is a safety precaution to prevent back-feeding electricity into the grid, which could be very dangerous to line workers.
In most cases, a good generator will take care of those few times when you need backup power. If you suffer from frequent outages, or prefer the assurance of instant backup, a grid-tied system with battery backup is probably the best choice for you.
Grid-tied systems with batteries allow you to feed excess power back to the grid for credit, but also provide a backup power source for when the power goes out. When this happens, the tie to the grid is shut down, but you now have the batteries as a source of power. Typically, a battery system will be sized to supply enough backup power for a few critical items, such as a water pump, heat source, and refrigerator until the main power is restored.
GreenSource Energy Solutions will consult with you to determine the most appropriate system size and configuration to meet your particular electricity requirements. We have access to a wide range of photovoltaic modules, inverters, batteries and racking systems. All systems are modular and can be expanded to accommodate future demand.
- Custom Off-Grid Systems
Off-grid systems—with no tie to the public utility grid—require very careful planning, taking into account all your electrical loads and local average weather conditions. These systems must be sized to cover extended periods of no sun, especially during winter months, and often include auxiliary backup such as a generator. Off-grid systems are most feasible in situations where your building is a substantial distance from the nearest grid connection. In this case, because the cost to have the utility run a long cable to your site is so high, an off-grid solar system is more economically feasible.
- Packaged Systems
“The Camp” System – A Complete Photovoltaic System for Your Camp or Cottage
After hearing from many customers who were looking for a small, affordable solar electric system for their backwoods camp or shanty, we created a very cost-effective solution. The Camp offers simple “plug & play” installation and 1,000 Watts of off-grid power for water pumping, power tools, lighting, entertainment—and plenty of “Cold Beer & Hot Showers.” Here’s dependable, quiet power for AC and 24-volt DC loads that charges all week for your weekend pleasure. And it’s expandable in case your weekender is too much fun for just 2 days Back to Main Products Page
- USA Solar Store Sunmore System – A Complete Full-Scale Grid Tied PV System
Exclusively available from the USA Solar Store network, Sunmore Systems offer homeowners a complete packaged 2 kW grid-tied solar electric solution, fully installed on your roof for less $16,000 before incentives.