Educational Archives - Reno Solar

Will my solar system work during a power outage?

Romulo Iglesias — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 08:44:50 +0000

When you install a grid-tied system, the panels will still produce power, however without a battery system or a generator. The power produced by your system at this time will apply to the grid and toward your net metering, but will not be operational without backup.

In the event of a power outage, basic habits like charging a cell phone become essential. Most homeowners have no source of backup power when the grid goes down. Even homes with solar may lose power in the event of a grid outage since the majority of homes are grid-tied.

There are a couple of reasons that grid-tied systems don’t work in an outage; those being technical and safety reasons. Solar power output varies directly with sunlight levels. So, even if you disregard the need for efficiency, connecting this variable resource directly to your home’s electrical system would cause fluctuations in your refrigerator, your lights to flicker, and electronic equipment to short.
As for safety, during a blackout, the power utility sends out repair crews to find and fix the points of failure. This can jeopardize their safety if there is something generating power (like a solar array) leaking power onto the grid. Therefore, utility rules mandate that in the event of a power outage, solar arrays must automatically shut down.

Your typical generator can come in handy to help power simple things, like your refrigerator, or put a charge on your phone in the event of a power outage. However, when you install solar on your home, you also get the option of going hybrid with a battery storage system.
Solar batteries are used in off-grid systems as the “grid” itself. Solar batteries can also be used in a grid-tied system since solar batteries are filled and refilled before your system feeds into the local power grid.
So when the grid’s down, with the flip of a switch, a hybrid system springs into action, essentially becoming your own suburban off-grid system.

The cost of a battery system can run pretty pricey, typically around 50% the cost of an average-sized system. They come in handy in places that experience frequent blackouts and can prove to be immeasurably indispensable for some. Talk to your Reno Solar expert to discuss what benefits a solar battery can add to your personal power system to find out if the backup is right for you!

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What is net metering?

Romulo Iglesias — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 20:21:36 +0000

Net metering is similar to the old-school rollover plans. What this means is that there may be times where your system is producing more energy than you’re consuming. At this time, that excess energy will feed into NV Energy’s power grid. When you’re at peak performance, and your consumption is more than your production, you will draw from the grid but be reimbursed in the form of credits from what you previously deposited to the grid. This helps to continuously negate your power bill.

Most homes are still grid-tied, meaning, even with solar on them, they are still connected to the local power grid. Net metering is a huge incentive that partners solar installations with the power company. Simply put, net metering is the process when your solar panels produce more electricity than you need, that energy is sent to the grid in exchange for credits. Then when your solar panels are under-producing, you pull energy from the grid and use these credits to offset the costs of that energy.

When your solar system is being designed for your usage, it’s being built for your average consumption. There will be times where you are consuming less power than your system has produced. For example, during the day while you’re at work, the sun is shining down on your panels at home. All the miscellaneous items left plugged in are not using ALL the power that your panels are producing, so the excess is sent back to the utility company’s power grid.

The utility company compensates this in the form of credits to be used when you’re consuming more power than is currently being produced. A great example of this is at night, there’s obviously no sunlight hitting your panels, your home is pulling power from the grid at this point, rather than your panels. With net metering, you’ve supplied the grid with power, now you’re pulling that power back from the grid, and they are compensating you with those credits to continuously negate your power bill.

In broader terms, most homes will produce excess electricity in the summer months and will use more electricity from the grid in the winter. Because these variations in production are fairly predictable, you will build up extra credits during the summer months so that you can draw from them at night and during the winter months when you need them. With the right size design for your home, your solar system will be able to produce enough power to handle your consumption for the year.

Net metering, in essence, is like using the power grid for your own personal backup without the added cost of purchasing a battery. In fact, it’s being compensated by the power company for reducing your dependence on them.

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What are the requirements to go solar?

Romulo Iglesias — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 20:10:45 +0000

There’s lots of talk surrounding solar energy these days; it’s clean, it’s abundant, and it can save you money. So what’s the catch?

You need to be the homeowner.
A roof without damages or an area to install a ground mount.
Enough light exposure on your roof or property
A 600+ credit score to secure financing

There is none!

You don’t have to drain your bank account, or even make a sacrifice to the sun god to qualify. As long as you’re the homeowner, and you have a roof to your home or the property to install a ground mount system, you can go solar! Homeowners with good credit are able to finance the cost of their solar array, for no upfront cost, no down payment, low-interest rates, and typically lower than they’re currently paying the power company.

Types of purchase plans (rates for financing on approved credit):

Solar purchase: You pay for your system outright. Eliminating the monthly payment to the power company or even a solar lender.
Solar loan: You pay for your system over time, at a lower payment than you’re currently paying to the power company. With good to excellent credit (650+), you can qualify for a solar loan, with long-term saving benefits, this is the most common option.

(The following are not offered through Reno Solar, only listed for informational purposes)

Solar PPA (Power Purchase Agreement: the solar provider owns the panels on your roof and you just pay the solar provider for the power produced at a lower cost than the power company.
Solar Lease: Similar to a PPA, the solar provider owns the panels on your roof, and you pay the solar provider at a fixed amount based on the estimated annual production of your solar panels.

So what’s included in the loan? Everything! There aren’t any hidden fees or fees that will come at a later time. Permits, site surveys, blueprints, CAD design, panels, electrical components, installation, warranty, and panel monitoring are all included.

We work with a handful of reputable solar lenders to guarantee the best rates and terms for your home’s solar system, ensuring that your investment is contributing to the equity in your home and bank account.

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What makes a good roof for solar?

renosolar — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 21:16:01 +0000

There are many factors to an “ideal” roof; condition, size, pitch, direction, materials, obstructions, stability, strength, climate, sun exposure, the trees in your yard, and so much more. Sometimes even your neighbor’s house can hinder the production of solar panels for your home. Our engineer’s software can help determine all the factors that will play into your home’s solar aptitude. However, the very best way to determine how suitable your roof is for solar is to have a solar expert look at your roof and conduct a site-survey. Though, don’t fear, if your roof isn’t suitable for solar, a classic ground mount option may be a more viable option!

So, how do you know if your roof is a good fit for solar panels? The good news is that most roofs are compatible with solar, even if they don’t meet every “ideal” qualification.

Condition, stability, and strength: This typically goes hand in hand with the age of the roof. Sometimes a roof needs to be replaced before it’s suitable for solar. Fortunately, most homeowners know this ahead of time, and they’re combining the two bills to save even more money on both! A surveyor will review the roof’s construction and the quality of its materials to determine the strength and stability prior to installation.

Size, pitch, and direction: You’ll want to make sure that your roof has enough surface area to accommodate the right amount of solar panels you will need and that the pitch and direction your roof faces will capture the sunlight adequately. Ideally, a south-facing roof, at a 30-degree angle is best. Not all architects design a home around the idea of solar being installed, so there are ways to work around this, and will be confirmed and finalized before moving forward with your project.

Obstructions can also play a role in your roof’s ability to effectively handle solar production. Pipes, chimneys, skylights, solar tubes, and so much more factor into your roof’s usable surface area.

Materials:

Asphalt shingles: The most common roofing material.These are easy to install solar on with a simple penetrating mount.
Tile roof: As the second most common roofing material, solar panels can be installed on tile roofs with a standard penetrating mount that raises them above the roof. Attaching solar panels to a tile roof can require some extra labor since tiles may need to be cut or removed to make way for the mounts.
Metal roof (with a standing seam): Metal roofs are great, as the panels can be attached with clamps and require no drilling.
Wood and slate roofs: Not typically ideal for solar installations as roofing materials are brittle, as well as posing a potential fire hazard.
Flat roof: On flat roofs, either a ballasted racking or standard penetrating mount can be used to install solar panels, with the addition of tilt-up brackets, which are used to keep solar panels at a 30-degree angle.

Climate and sun exposure: Solar panels produce less in overcast conditions, however, the savings by switching to solar, compared to the electricity rates can still be a huge benefit of making the switch. The amount of shade around your roof can also impact the effectiveness of solar panels. In some cases, shade cannot be altered. For example, if your house is shaded by other buildings, there’s not much you can do about this. If your roof receives minimal sunlight, then solar panels may not be a great option for you. It’s best to consult with an expert as to the exposure your roof has before you rule out your ability to go solar.

If you don’t feel your roof is suitable for solar, it’s recommended to schedule a site survey for your home, where an expert can help you determine the best option for solar. If they determine that your roof would make solar inefficient, then ask if a ground mount option is right for you!

So, you have the right roof, but you may be asking yourself, what if I need to replace my roof down the line? Easy! The panels will be detached and reset for a small service charge if you decide to change or replace your roof at any point.

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What size system will I need?

renosolar — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 21:07:18 +0000

The system size you’ll need is based on your energy consumption and usage patterns. Our engineers analyze your electric bill to determine the amount of kilowatts your system will need to produce to offset your consumption. From there, they will determine just how many panels you will need, as well as what part of your roof to place them on to maximize the panel’s production abilities!

The amount of energy a solar panel can produce is measured in kilowatts (KW). The amount of energy you consume over an amount of time is measured in kilowatt hours (KWH). To determine how many KW your panels will need to produce, we first need to know how many KWH your home is consuming.

According to the US Energy Information Administration the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 10,649KWH . Knowing the average is helpful, but each home’s consumption is different.

Basic steps to energy generation with solar panels

Your personal energy consumption via a current power bill
The direction in which your roof faces, as well as the amount of space,and the layout and slope of your roof.
The amount of sunlight your roof gets and any potential factors that could hinder your panels performance (shade, tree growth, etc.)
The wattage of the panels being placed on your home.

Our team of engineers analyze your energy bill, breaking down your annual kilowatt-hour (KWH) consumption, year-over-year, month-to-month, as well as daily. From here they will find your average KWH consumption. From this information they will determine the production required from your solar panels to ensure an efficient offset of your energy consumption. This is then calculated to determine the specific amount of energy your solar panels will need to produce to power your home.

That’s not all though, from this point, our engineers will plug your usage into specialty software, and using satellite imagery they will determine the exact amount of sunlight your roof receives at different times of the day to determine the optimal placement of panels to maximize efficiency. Using this software they can measure the surface area of your roof, the slope, and any inhibiting factors that may interfere with the placement of the panels. With this information they will then add the correct amount and type of panels, in their strategic placement, and confirm their production with their software to finalize the correct number of panels you need.

All that is needed from you to effectively determine the amount of panels is a copy of your energy bill, and the engineers do the rest. It’s as simple as that!

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How do solar panels work?

renosolar — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 07:15:15 +0000

Solar panels absorb the sun’s energy throughout the day and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. Most homes run on alternating current (AC) electricity, so the DC electricity is then passed through an inverter to convert it to usable AC electricity. Then you will either use the electricity, send it back to the grid, or store it in your own battery backup.

Your typical solar panel is composed of photovoltaic (PV) cells, photovoltaic simply means it converts sunlight into energy. These cells are sandwiched between two pieces of semiconducting material, which is typically silicon. Silicon is commonly used because it can conduct electricity while maintaining an electrical imbalance needed to provide an electric field.

When the sunlight hits the panel, it first hits the semiconductor in the PV cells, allowing photons, or the particles of light, to knock electrons free from atoms, which generates the electric field. This electric field forces the electrons to flow to conductive metal plates located on the side of the panels, this is called an electric current. This electric current is directed to the wires, creating direct current (DC) electricity, and allows the electrons to flow like they do in any other electric generation.

While solar panels create DC electricity, standard consumers need alternating current (AC) electricity to power their lives. So once the electric current is flowing in the wires, it is sent to the inverter. The inverter’s job is to turn the DC electricity into AC electricity, making it accessible for everyday use. After the inverter has transformed the DC electricity into AC electricity, it sends the power to an electrical panel, commonly referred to as a breaker box. From here the energy is now ready to use to power your light, appliances, and any other electrical devices. Once the power reaches the electric panel and is ready for consumption. If the energy is not consumed it is then sent to your local power company’s electric grid, or built up in your own energy storage containment for use when your electric consumption is greater than your production capacity.

While the details behind solar can seem complex, the benefits of installing a solar array are simple. A solar expert can walk you through these benefits and help you explore if solar is the right option for you.

Basic steps to energy generation with solar panels

Sunlight hits the panels, converting the sun’s energy into Direct Current (DC) electricity and creates an electric field
The energy created then flows to a conductive wire from the panel which brings the energy created to an inverter
The inverter converts Direct Current (DC) electricity into Alternating Current (AC) electricity
Another wire delivers the AC energy created to your electrical panel which distributes the power as needed.

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