Technical Information

A Solar Photovoltaic system (or PV system) is a system which consists of a collection of Solar panels which when exposed to sunlight, electricity is produced. A Photovoltaic system consists of a multiple of components, including the photovoltaic modules, mechanical and electrical connections and mountings and the means of regulating and/or modifying the electrical output from DC Voltage to AC Voltage via a DC to AC inverter unit.

Solar panels are installed onto aluminium frames which are either ground mounted, roof mounted, wall or building mounted.

The power that one Solar Panel can produce is not enough to meet requirements of a home or a business, so the modules are linked together to form a Solar Array. Solar PV arrays use an inverter to convert the DC power produced by the modules into AC power that can be used within buildings as an alternative and sustainable power source.

The modules in a PV array are usually first connected in series to obtain the correct voltage, the individual strings are then connected in parallel to allow the systems current be increased to a useful and useable level.

Solar arrays are typically measured under STC (standard test conditions) in watts, kilowatts, and megawatts.

The total power output of a panel or system is measured as Watts Peak ( Wp ), Kilo Watts Peak ( kWp ) or Mega Watts Peak (mWp )

In the United Kingdom Solar PV Systems are connected to the buildings electricity distribution system and supplies power to feed electrical loads such as lighting and general power. Systems are known as either “Grid Tied or Grid Connected Systems” which allow surplus energy to be exported into the street or national grid for the use of others or “Stand Alone Systems” which are used for buildings in locations as a alternative source of power where it is impossible or impractical for power to be imported from the street or national grid.

From 2010 the government backed Feed In Tariff scheme has enabled owners of grid connected Solar PV systems to be paid for producing and exporting electricity from their systems.