Solar Basics
Solar Panels
Also called solar modules, solar panels are made up of silicon "cells" that absorb photons (sunlight) to create a photovoltaic (PV) effect that converts sunlight into electricity. A solar array is connected to your home via an inverter, delivering the electricity you need.
Solar Inverter
A solar inverter is the electrical box that turns direct current (DC) electricity produced by solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity that you use in your home. Grid-tied solar inverters allow this AC electricity to be sent back to the grid if you produce more energy than you use.
Solar Meter
The solar meter monitors the electricity your system produces to ensure it is working well. With Sungevity, you can acceess your system’s performance online and from your mobile devices, anywhere.
Net Metering
When your solar system generates more electricity than you use, like during the daytime, you receive credit from your utility. This credit is called Net Metering and you may even see your meter run backwards. When you use more electricity than you generate, like at night, you draw it back off the grid and subsequently reduce credits associated with your Net Metering.
The Grid
The grid is a network of power lines that carries and transmits electricity from power plants to individual homes. Sungevity systems are "grid-tied" (or connected to the grid) so you can still power your house when the sun doesn't shine and take advantage of available tax incentives and rebates.
Utility
Depending on where you live, a local municipality or a large power producer sends power to you via the grid. If, at the end of the year, you’ve produced more power than you used, some utilities will compensate you for this extra power. Contact your utility for information about its net metering or solar bank program.
Solar Panels
Also called solar modules, solar panels are made up of silicon "cells" that absorb photons (sunlight) to create a photovoltaic (PV) effect that converts sunlight into electricity. A solar array is connected to your home via an inverter, delivering the electricity you need.
Solar Inverter
A solar inverter is the electrical box that turns direct current (DC) electricity produced by solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity that you use in your home. Grid-tied solar inverters allow this AC electricity to be sent back to the grid if you produce more energy than you use.
Solar Meter
The solar meter monitors the electricity your system produces to ensure it is working well. With Sungevity, you can acceess your system’s performance online and from your mobile devices, anywhere.
Net Metering
When you install a grid-tied solar system, your utility company monitors the electricity your solar panels produce and how much of it you use through a process called net metering. If your system generates more electricity than you use, you receive credit from your utility. When you use more electricity than you generate, like at night, you draw it back off the grid as needed.
The Grid
The grid is a network of power lines that carries and transmits electricity from power plants to individual homes. Sungevity systems are "grid-tied" (or connected to the grid) so you can still power your house when the sun doesn't shine and take advantage of available tax incentives and rebates.
Utility
Depending on where you live, a local municipality or a large power producer sends power to you via the grid. If, at the end of the year, you’ve produced more power than you used, some utilities will compensate you for this extra power. Contact your utility for information about its net metering or solar bank program.
Sun facts
Virtually every form of energy we use starts with the sun. In fact, every hour the sun beams onto Earth more than enough energy to satisfy global energy needs for an entire year. All that energy is completely free for you to harness for your own use.
2,880T
Every hour, the sun produces enough energy to power 2,880 trillion light bulbs.
20DAYS
All of the energy stored in Earth’s reserves of coal, oil, and natural gas is matched by the energy of just 20 days of sunshine.
40MIN
The amount of solar energy that falls on the Earth’s surface in 40 minutes equals the total annual energy consumption of everyone on the planet.
