Solar Basic Facts

• One kilowatt-hour (kWh) equals the amount of electricity needed to burn a 100 watt light bulb for 10 hours.
• A 1-2 kilowatt (1000-2000 watts) system takes between one and two days to install.
• The solar module (also called a "solar panel") itself accounts for between 40-50% of the total cost of an installed solar energy system.
• The typical main components of a solar system are the solar module, an inverter, a battery, a charge controller (sometimes known as a regulator), wiring and support structure.
• A typical silicon cell Solar Module will have a life in excess of 20 years. It's electric generating capacity may de gradate gradually between 0-20% over its useful life.
• A Solar Energy System can provide electricity 24 hours a day. How? The solar electric modules are combined with batteries in one integrated energy system.
• Yes, Solar Modules do produce electricity even on cloudy days, some 10-20% of that on sunny days Solar Systems not connected to the electricity grid are "sized" to take account of this variation, Systems attached to the electricity grid balance their overall energy supply with supplies from the electricity grid.
• A 1 kilowatt Solar System (about 10-12 solar modules) requires about 100 square feet of installation area.
• A 12 cubic feet Refrigerator uses about 800 kilowatt hours per year, A 500 Watt portable heater uses about 150 kilowatt hours per year & A 3 ton Central Air Conditioning system uses about 2500 kilowatt hours per year.
• A 1 kilowatt peak Solar System will generate around 1,600 kilowatt hours per year in a sunny climate.