Small Solar Electric Systems: A Minnesota Guide

Can I use solar energy to power my home? More and more Minnesotans are asking themselves this question as people look for affordable, clean and reliable sources of electricity. Minnesota has better solar resources than what most people may think. In fact, average annual resources in Minneapolis are comparable to solar resources in Jacksonville, Fla. Minnesota’s solar energy can produce electricity when demand is highest—during the summer months. Solar electric systems will even produce electricity on cloudy days, although generation is significantly reduced. Small solar electric systems can make a significant contribution to meeting energy needs. A small solar electric system may be a good choice if: • trees, buildings, or other structures do not shade the installation location, • there is adequate roof, wall or yard space to permit a collector assembly installation, • the desired electrical output can be achieved, • there are few personal financial barriers for on- grid homes or • the home or cabin is located off-grid, away from power lines. Most people are interested in solar energy because it is a nonpolluting source of power. Solar electric systems are one of the most flexible home-based renewable energy systems available. The system can be moved from one location to another with far greater ease than other renewable energy systems and can be added to over an extended period of time, a few solar panels at a time. Depending on the solar resource availability and the home’s electric energy consumption, a small solar electric system can lower electricity bills by 50 to 90 percent, prevent power interruptions and avoid the high costs of extending utility power lines to remote locations. In small solar electric systems, PV cells are typically combined into panels that hold about 40 cells; multiple panels can be mounted together in an array that can measure up to several yards (meters) on a side. Panels come in sizes from a few watts to hundreds of watts—a small home system can use anywhere from 3 to 20 panels, depending on their size. Also available are solar roof shingles, which replace conventional roofing materials while providing electricity less expensively than standard solar panels. Small Solar Electric Systems: A Minnesota Guide N type semiconductor P type semiconductor Light energy Electrical energy Photovoltaic Device The photovoltaic effect French scientist Edmund Becquerel first reported the photovoltaic effect in 1839, when he observed a voltage between two electrodes in a beaker of electrolyte after the beaker was exposed to sunlight. Solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) cells convert sunlight directly into electricity. PV cells are made of semi-conducting materials, similar to those used in computer chips. When exposed to sunlight, these materials absorb light energy and are “excited,” causing electrons to flow through the material and produce electricity. This process of converting light (photons) to electricity (voltage) is called the photovoltaic effect.

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