Call (877) 939.0400

You've probably seen calculators that have solar cells -- calculators that never need batteries, and often don't even have an off button. As long as there is enough light, they seem to work forever. You may have also seen solar cell arrays on satellites, where they are used to provide solar electricity to the systems.

The solar cells that you see on calculators and satellites are solar photovoltaic cells or modules (a group of cells electrically connected and packaged in one frame). As the word suggests (photo = light, voltaic = energy), photovoltaic units convert sunlight directly into solar electricity.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of semi-conductor materials such as silicon, which is currently the most commonly used material. When the silicon absorbs light, it releases electrons. PV cells all have one or more electric fields that force these freed electrons to flow in a certain direction. This stream of electrons is a current, and by placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of a PV cell, we can draw that current off for external applications.

Solar cells alone cannot produce usable solar electricity. They need to be interconnected with other system components that ultimately conduct a specific electrical demand, or "load."

Photovoltaic systems can either be stand-alone or grid-connected. The main difference between these two basic types of systems is that for grid-connected systems, the PV system produces power in parallel with the electrical utility. It can feed power back into the utility grid if the onsite load does not use all of the PV system's output.

When the sun is shining, the direct current (DC) electricity from the PV modules is converted to alternating current (AC) through an electronic inverter, and then fed directly into the site power distribution system where it supplies electric power. Any excess solar electricity is exported to the utility power grid and any shortfall is made up with electricity supplied by the grid. During non-sun hours, the site is supplied by utility power alone.

A Proactive Solution for Rising Energy Costs

A solar investment offers economic security against rising electricity prices. Operating costs are minimal because solar cells -- unlike conventional power systems -- need very little maintenance, have few spare parts, and use no fuel.

Clean, Non-Polluting Energy

Solar electric systems release zero emissions into the atmosphere. Many of the traditional forms of electrical generation release carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury, which are known to contribute to global warming, acid rain and smog.

Reliable and Low Maintenance

Solar electric power systems are fully automatic and perfectly suited for unmanned operation, allowing you to concentrate on your core business. There are no moving parts, so the system has a very long lifetime (30-40 years) and is virtually maintenance free. The quality of the solar electricity provided is excellent with very few, if any, variations.

Shorter Payback & Good Return On Investment (ROI)

A solar investment is low-risk and high-return. No matter what size system you buy, or what percentage of your electric usage you offset, your, payback period will be relatively the same. It is all a matter of how much you can invest to hedge against rising energy costs. Once your system is "paid back," you have $0 invested in your system, and a percentage of your electricity bill eliminated for decades.

Become a Sustainable Green Business

Going solar can not only reduce your operating costs, but can also be a great marketing tool and an excellent way to improve your company's image and public relations. Studies have shown that the general public responds positively to businesses that implement energy-conscious technologies, even when its knowledge of how these technologies work is limited. Switching to solar electricity is a smart move for your organization -- and for the planet.