By harnessing the power of the sun, wind or water, people all over the world produce their own pollution-free reliable electricity. Technological advances, government assistance, the need for reliable power, and the desire to reduce the use of fossil fuels have made renewable energy systems attractive to people in the United States and worldwide. You can be completely independent of public utilities, sell energy back to the power companies, or just take advantage of the newest portable solar devices that go with you anywhere, for any activitiy.
The cost of a solar system depends on a number of factors, such as the size of the system and the particular system manufacturer, retailer, and installer. However, any solar rebates and other incentives available in your area will reduce that total cost. With a solar electric system, you can provide yourself with some protection from the fluctuating prices of fuel, because your systems fuel is the sun. Additionally, state, local and federal tax incentives and rebates have made obtaining a system more economical.
State and Federal Incentives There is a federal tax incentive called the Energy Credit that allows businesses to take a 15% credit for renewable energy equipment (solar electric, solar thermal and wind powered systems). In addition, there is an accelerated 5-year depreciation schedule that allows businesses to write 100% of the systems cost off their taxable income over the first five years. Many states offer rebates and tax incentives to home owners to lower the installed cost of a utility connected power system.If you have access to the world wide web, look at http://www.dsireusa.org/ for more information about incentives in your area. THREE BASIC TYPES OF PANELS:
1. Monocrystalline - made from a single large crystal, cut from ingots. Most efficient, but also the most expensive. Somewhat better in low light conditions.
2. Polycrystalline - basically, cast blocks of silicon which may contain many small crystals. This is probably the most common type right now. Slightly less efficient than single crystal, but once set into a frame with 35 or so other cells, the actual difference in watts per square foot is not much.
3. Amorphous - "thin film", here the silicon is spread directly on large plates, usually of something like stainless steel. Cheaper to produce, but often much less efficient, which means larger panels for the same power.
Thin Film Technology
Capabilities of a new thin-film photovoltaic module that is created by applying a fine film of copper indium diselenide (CIS) to a glass backing - producing a semi-conductor. When the semi-conductor is exposed to sunlight, it actively converts sunlight into electricity - at a cost up to 10 times less than the crystalline silicon based cells now on the market.
