Alternative Energy Sources

A Photovoltaic (PV) system harnesses the power of sunlight to supply your home, office or factory with electricity. Photovoltaic systems produce electricity from sunlight through modules that are installed on your roof or elsewhere on your property. PV power doesn’t produce noise or pollution, it’s reliable, dependable and has no moving parts. It’s also renewable, so it's good environment.

The basic building block is the PV cell, which is connected to other cells to create larger units called modules. Modules are connected together to form panels or strings. The desired resulting voltage will determine the number of modules in a string. The number of strings will determine the capacity of your system. The finished panels are also called an array.

A well-designed alternative energy system can be even more reliable than utility company power. However, there are a few key points to account for when designing any home power system, to ensure it works as planned, and provides as much power as you need.You'll need to know which renewable energy sources will provide the most power in your location, whether you get a lot of wind, live next to a year-round river, or enjoy a lot of clear, sunny weather. In most cases, a combination of different power sources will be needed. The most common and versatile system would probably include solar panels for sunny days, wind generators for inclement weather, and a back up generator for weeks when mother nature refuses to cooperate. Folks lucky enough to live near a river or large year-round stream could possibly power their whole house with only 1 or 2 micro hydro generators though. Your individual location will determine your individual system.