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 In a recent presentation to Logan County
residents, Patrick McElroy and Jason Mullholland of Tick Tock
Energy, an Effingham based company, said solar is “hot” in Illinois
and a good financial investment due to incentive money.
Among the reasons McElroy touted for using solar are:
- It is simple and easy
- It saves a lot of money.
- It lasts between 30 and 40 years.
- It provides protection from electricity
inflation.
- It is more affordable than ever.
- It is easy to finance because banks consider
it a safe investment.
- Low maintenance panels can be installed
almost anywhere with
clear southern exposure.
- Washington and Springfield want to give
people energy credits.
- There is a good return on investment.
One major reason some are using solar energy
is the energy savings it provides. Some months, it produces more
power than used, but even in when it does not exceed energy
needs, it still provides a return on investment.
Ameren pays back based on the solar credits, so solar panel
users earn credits during the summer to pay for winter. Ameren
tries to balance it so there is no extra left.
Typical installation costs are $12,000 to $16,000. However,
Solar Renewable Energy Credits and an Illinois Incentive can
help repay 30 to 40 percent of the system installation costs,
which can add up to several thousand dollars over a five-year
period.
Solar energy can be monitored through web-based monitoring
hourly, daily, or by each panel
These are just some reasons for having a solar energy system
installed.
Before having solar panels installed, you must consider where to
mount them.
In one video, Tick Tock Energy says when installing solar
panels, southern exposure is ideal, though other angles may work
as well. Experts can determine the best option for your
location. The location of the solar array should be in an area
that receives full sunlight. Some shading is acceptable but can
lower energy output.
Solar is versatile, so whether rural, residential, or
commercial, if you have a lot of sun, you are probably a
candidate.
Solar panels can be installed almost anywhere: roof, wall,
carport, tracker system, and ground mounts.
First, rails are mounted to the site chosen. After rails are
fastened, the crew securely clips each panel into place and
wires the panels into the home electrical system.
Wiring involves installing an inverter to turn the direct
current (DC) from the panels to alternating current (AC) in your
home.
Finally, a net meter is installed to measure your electrical
usage as well as how much is sent back to the grid.
See the process at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaa7MSoJ64U&list=PLDUD28Bg7
PKgeZigSQ2TWPEGctXYZ-r70
Steve Tesoriero of Renewable Resource Systems describes the
steps in the installation process.
In this installation, 24 panels are installed on one part of the
roof. On another part of the roof a solar thermal system is
installed.
Inside, they replace a hot water heater with a solar domestic
hot water system driven from the solar collector on the roof.
Metal lags are next screwed in from the outside to 2 feet by 10
feet by 16 feet rafters in the attic to secure the flashing and
racks to attach the panels.
Before installing the panels, the roofers
start with the flashing, which is part of the mounting system
for the panels and prevents water from getting inside.
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After some reroofing, rails are placed horizontally
on the roof to attach the panels.
The last part of the process involves attaching and connecting 24
solar panels in three strings of eight panels each.
Inside the attic six wires from the array of panels are brought
through a small hole in the roof, combined in a “combiner box” to
make the appropriate connections, and energy from the six wires is
converted down to two wires.
These wires are driven through Electrical Metal Tubing, a shielded
cable that runs downstairs to connect to the inverter that will
change the power from DC to AC. They also run through a DC
disconnect in case it must be turned off. The AC power will go into
a utility grade meter, which goes outside to the AC disconnect.
The power comes back into the house through another wire. It will
supply energy to the home’s appliances, and current coming through
that is not being used will be sent back to the grid.
Watch how it is done at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7ABok-CPPo
Infinite Solar Online explains how solar power works:
When sunlight hits the panels on a solar power system, the panels
convert the sun’s energy into electricity that can be used to power
your home.
Your home’s power performance stays the same whether electricity is
drawn from the PV installation or from an energy company.
Once the inverter has changed the power from DC to AC, which powers
most home appliances, the electrical current flows from the inverter
to the home’s electrical service panel that feeds electricity into
the household.
An optional tracking meter can keep track of a home’s electrical
consumption and total output of solar consumption. The tracking
systems often have live displays or online monitors, so you can
track how much of your energy needs are being met by your system’s
production and how well the system is performing.
During the day, if the solar system’s production exceeds the
household’s needs, excess electricity is fed back into the power
grid. You will see the meter spin backwards when that occurs.
Most local government have a credit system in place requiring
utility companies to buy back the excess energy.
In addition to reducing electric bills, these credits can be sold to
utilities, which generates revenue to pay back your investment for
the PV system and eventually turn it into profit.
At night or anytime a household uses more electricity than the
installation is producing, the extra energy is pulled from the grid
as it would be normally.
When you install a solar system on a home, the only notable
difference will show up on your electric bill.
Watch how the system works at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6UgO6-HELc
If saving money on electricity sounds like a great idea and you are
willing to invest in the latest solar technology, having solar
panels installed may be a good choice for you.
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