What are photovoltaics or solar cells? What are their benefits and costs?
Photovoltaics, or PV for short, is a technology that converts light directly into electricity. Photovoltaics is best known as a method for generating solar power by using solar cells packaged in photovoltaic modules, often electrically connected in multiples as solar photovoltaic arrays to convert energy from the sun into electricity. To explain the photovoltaic solar panel more simply, photons from sunlight knock electrons into a higher state of energy, creating electricity. Photovoltaics are usually installed as a grid type system where the energy is “sold” to your energy company. A battery system where the energy is stored in a battery also exists, but it is much more costly. With the grid system, the building owner “sells” the energy created by his/her photovoltaics to his/her energy company such as Xcel Energy and then re-purchases energy at a lower price OR the building owner gets a credit for his/her usage. These credits and pricing are state dependent. Check with your particula
