The home solar power systems available today include panels and kits that will allow you to go off of the grid or hook into the grid. Hooking into the grid is for homes serviced by a public utility.
Any excess electricity generated is sold to the utility. You could end up getting paid for the electricity you generate instead of paying an electricity bill.
The amount of renewable energy generated in this way depends on the number of panels installed and the location of the residence. The direction the panels face is a consideration. Some of the newer panels can be programmed to move along with the sun. They are more expensive to install, but they generate more electricity.
The panels can be installed on the roof of the house or at an adjacent location. Those installed in homes and offices are referred to as building-integrated, as opposed to ground-mounted. Ground-mounted varieties may be less expensive for existing homes. In new homes, the panels can be mounted during construction to reduce the costs of installation.
The panels in modern home solar power systems are photovoltaic or PV for short. They convert the sun's radiation into direct current electricity. DC must be converted to AC (alternating current) to make it compatible with the home's appliances. The necessary inverters are a part of the price of installation. Once the current is converted to AC power, it simply enters the wires of your house, just as electricity from the power company would. Only, you don't pay for it.
The wires from the panels are typically connected near an existing electricity meter. People enjoy watching the meter run backwards as the power generated by the panels exceeds the amount being used in the house. They feel good, because they know they are using renewable energy that does not contribute to global warming.
Home solar power systems can also be used where there is no existing electricity source. People who want to go off the grid use batteries to store electricity created during the day for use at night. The batteries may be stored in an attic or another room of the house.
It is still necessary to use an inverter to convert the DC power to AC power, unless the home's appliances are able to run off of DC current. Some appliances designed for use in RVs are able to hook directly into the battery packs.
The use of renewable energy is growing worldwide. Between 2004 and 2009, the use of grid-connected business and home solar power systems grew by 60% per year. Sun, wind and wave action could light up 100% of the homes and businesses in the world. Hopefully someday they will.
