FAQs
Definitions
> What is photovoltaic electricity?
Solar photovoltaics is the simple conversion of solar energy into electrical energy by means of silicon arrays that have been integrated into photovoltaic panels. This technology does not come with any moving parts, and does not generate any noise, pollution, or CO2 emissions.
> What is a solar array?
A solar array, or photovoltaic array, converts solar energy into electrical energy. It is made from semi-conductor materials that are capable of conducting and transporting the electricity.
> What is a solar module?
A solar module is a group or series of interconnected solar arrays that have been embedded into protective casing.
> What is a solar photovoltaic panel?
Mostly installed on the standard roofs and terrace roofs of buildings, solar photovoltaic panels can also be installed on the facade of a building, or embedded into the ground in the case of high-performance systems. A solar panel is a group of interconnected solar modules that has been positioned onto a support structure, thereby constituting a stand-alone generator.
> What are the components of a solar electricity system?
- Solar modules, which convert light from the sun into electricity,
- An inverter, which converts the direct current into alternating current,
- Load converters, which are installed between the solar modules, a battery, and a power consumption circuit. The main function of the load converter is to protect the battery against excessive overcharging or undercharging,
- Batteries, which store the energy produced by the solar modules,
- Installation structures, which ensure that the solar modules are kept firmly in place.
> What is an inverter?
Inverters are used to standardize the solar electricity that is produced. They convert the direct current that is generated by the solar photovoltaic modules into alternating current, which can then be injected back into the electricity distribution grid.
> What does Watt-peak mean (Wp)?
"Watt-peak" defines the photovoltaic output of a module at temperatures under 25°C and solar radiation of 1 kW/m² (radiation received at midday on a surface area perpendicular to the sun).
1 watt-peak supplies 1 watt of electrical power at a radiation level of 1 kW/m².
> What are the main types of solar photovoltaic panel?
The best performing solar panels are monocrystalline solar panels. Their manufacturing cycle is very complex, which means that they are relatively expensive compared with their output in terms of productivity. Amorphous (or micro-amorphous) solar panels produce a lower output but are significantly more effective in low levels of sunlight (when overcast or cloudy). They are less expensive, but generate considerably less energy than crystalline panels.
Polycrystalline (or multicrystalline) solar panels offer the best value for money. Which is why the vast majority of installation use this type of panel today.
> What is the difference between a thermal solar panel and a solar photovoltaic panel?
A thermal solar panel does not generate any electricity, instead it captures energy from the sun in order to produce hot water for a heating system and hot water tank.
top of pageInstallation/maintenance
> Does the installation need to be maintained?
As a rule, photovoltaic installations require very little maintenance. They have no moving parts, bearings, or other fragile components. However, we recommend that you verify the accuracy of the output values by regularly checking the meter that counts the volume of solar energy that has been injected back into the grid. We also recommend that you use a PC or data recording device to ensure that any installation faults are detected as early as possible.
> What is the life span of a photovoltaic system?
The lifespan of the system depends on the size of the installation. The system is assembled in a number of stages:
- Coverage of the roof,
- Installation of the structure,
- Installation of the photovoltaic panels,
- Connection to the grid.
Performance
> What does the output of a solar panel indicate?
The output of a solar photovoltaic panel indicates the relationship between the power that is supplied and the power of the radiation that is captured by the solar panel, taking into account its surface area.
> What is the annual output of a solar photovoltaic installation?
The productivity of a solar photovoltaic installation depends on a number of factors:
- The orientation of the roof or solar installation,
- The tilt angle of the installation,
- The presence or otherwise of drop shadows,
- Local sunshine levels,
- Meteorological conditions.
> Are photovoltaic panels resistant to hail, storms, and lightening?
The photovoltaic panels are very well protected against hail. They are made from special, tempered glass. In terms of storms, solar panels do not attract lightening.
> How do clouds impact the output of a solar photovoltaic panel?
It is not essential for the sun to be visible for a solar photovoltaic panel to function properly. The sunlight diffused through clouds can also be used to produce solar electricity. The performance of the panel is proportional to the levels of external sunlight.
> Do solar electricity systems work during cold weather?
Contrary to what you might think, a photovoltaic system produces more power when temperatures are low.
> How can I tell if my building is suitable for a solar installation?
Ideally, the roof should be facing directly south at an angle of 30°.
Generally, almost all buildings are suitable for mounting a solar installation. The solar photovoltaic installation requires a certain surface area for assembly on the roof or façade of the building, which can be south-facing, east-facing, or west-facing. For optimum performance, this surface area should be south-facing with a tilt angle of 30°. A slight variance to the south-east/south-west, or a tilt angle between 25° and 60°, will only slightly reduce the amount of energy produced. However, surface areas with drop shadows caused by trees, neighboring buildings, or chimneys should be avoided.
> Do drop shadows on a photovoltaic installation have an impact on its performance?
Yes, any drop shadow will impact the performance of the photovoltaic installation. You therefore need to make sure that there are no electric cables, posts, trees, bushes, or chimneys interfering with the flow of light from the sun.
> Is it possible to walk on a photovoltaic installation?
Yes, the panels are engineered to withstand a significant load. However, you should not interfere with the panels without electrical authorization as they generate energy continuously.
top of pageEcological footprint
> Does the process of manufacturing a photovoltaic module use up very high levels of energy?
Photovoltaic electricity does not produce CO2 emissions, but the process of manufacturing the photovoltaic modules does use up electricity. However, within 2 to 3 years, the photovoltaic module will have produced more energy that was required to manufacture it initially.
> Can solar photovoltaic panels be recycled?
The solar photovoltaic panels can be recycled by specialized manufacturers. When they reach the end of their lifecycle, the materials can be used to manufacture new solar panels, for example. The panels are melted down in order to separate out the different components. Once purified, the silicon arrays can be used again in new photovoltaic modules.
> What are the environmental benefits of having a photovoltaic installation?
Unlike fossil energy, solar photovoltaic panels do not emit any CO2. Inexhaustible, universally available, and non-polluting (sound or atmospheric), this solution also ensures that energy is produced as close as possible to the point of consumption. The use of solar energy also helps prevent the pollution caused by the enrichment of raw materials, transportation, extraction, or the final storage of energy waste.
The generation of solar energy helps to reduce our annual production of CO2. For example, a residential solar photovoltaic installation can help save up to 35 tons of CO2 over a 20-year period, in other words, the CO2-equivalent of circumnavigating the globe by car four times!
> What is an ecological footprint?
Our ecological footprint measures our direct impact on our environment through the natural resources we consume (food, transport, housing, waste management, etc.). Since the 1980s, we have been using up the Earth’s resources at a faster rate than they can be supplied. Our consumption levels are higher than the regeneration capacity of the Earth’s ecosystems. The annual sustainable production threshold for CO2 is approximately 500 kg.
> What are renewable energies?
Renewable energy is energy that is generated from natural resources (sun, wind, waves, tides, forests, etc.), unlike fossil energy (oil, gas, coal, uranium), which causes often irreversible pollution.
> Is photovoltaics viable from an environmental point of view?
One of the problems inherent with generating electricity today is the leakage of energy while it is transported between the large production units (nuclear stations, thermal stations, etc.) and the end user. It is said that one nuclear reactor needs to be kept in continuous operation in order to compensate for this level of energy leakage. It’s clear, therefore, that small, locally based units for generating electricity will help to limit these losses by providing sources of energy that are close to the point of consumption. This is borne out by the figures: if 1 Kwh of energy is consumed (by a private individual or company, etc.), 2.6 kWh of energy would need to be generated using currently available production resources. With photovoltaics, only 1.2 kWh of energy needs to be generated in order to effectively supply 1 kWh of energy to the end user.
Moreover, small photovoltaic installations based in private homes help to even out the demands placed on the electricity grid.
