Power Systems Division
SunWize is a solar energy company specializing in the design and installation of residential and commercial grid-tied solar electric systems in Southern California.
California Contractors
License No. 890619
Irvine Office
43 Corporate Park, Suite 202
Irvine, CA 92606
Ph: 949-417-0750
Fax: 949-417-0775
email: systemsinfo@sunwize.com
Palm Desert Office
78015 Wildcat Drive, Suite 101
Palm Desert, CA 92211
Ph: 760-360-1620
Fax: 760-360-1357
Rancho Cucamonga Office
8830 Rochester Ave., Suite 100
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Ph: 909-484-5474
Fax: 909-984-5721
Murrieta Office
38340 Innovation Court, Suite 605
Murrieta, CA 92563
Ph: 951-696-5066
Fax: 951-696-5024
San Jose Office
111 W. St. John Street, Suite 1200
San Jose, CA 95113
Ph: 866-436-7353
About Solar
Photovoltaic Concept
Photovoltaic, or PV for short, is a solar power technology that uses solar cells to convert light from the sun directly into electricity. This unique process uses no moving parts, thereby nothing can ware out. To explain the photovoltaic solar panel more simply, photons from sunlight knock electrons into a higher state of energy, creating electricity.
Photovoltaic solar cells use the energy of the sun’s light to cause electrons to move between layers of a semi-conductor material, such as silicon. Once moved, the electron wants to return, but cannot jump back. It gets back by flowing through wires and circuits which creates electron flow or direct current (DC) electricity.
Courtesy North Carolina Solar Center
Interesting Solar Facts
- The sun radiates approximately 1000 watts per square meter of area.
- The sun sends 15,000 times as much energy to the Earth as we consume worldwide on a daily basis.
- This available energy is clean, safe and environmentally friendly.
- Solar power is a free energy supply that in contrast to fossil energy sources, such as oil and natural gas is available in limitless quantities.
- Photovoltaic production has been doubling every two years, increasing by an average of 48 percent each year since 2002; making it the world’s fastest-growing energy technology.
Net Metering
The first practical application of photovoltaic technology was to power orbiting satellites, followed by off-grid stand alone power systems. Today the majority of photovoltaic modules are used for grid connected power generation. Grid connected solar is made possible by a practice called net metering.
Net metering is a simple concept; power created from your solar system is connected to the electric grid and credited in real time. Any excess power created by the system that you are not using, at that moment, is fed back into the power grid. As this excess power is “back-fed”, your meter operates in reverse. Literally your meter spins backward! The power grid is managed by your local utility company and includes everyone connected to it. Any power you don’t use is credited back to you and reduces your bill. Currently residential users are not paid should you create more than you ultimately use annually.
Net metering simplifies the solar system design into four major components:
- Solar Modules – The solar modules or solar panels as they are commonly known are the power generating device of the system. Whenever light is present (even on cloudy days) the panels will generate electricity.
- Racking System – This is the permanent support system attached to the structure of a building or to the ground on which the solar panels are fastened.
- Wiring System – This is the electrical set of wiring and disconnect switches between the solar modules and the meter.
- Solar Inverter – This is a power conditioning devise which changes the current coming from the solar modules in the form of Direct Current (DC Power) into Alternating Current (AC Power). The inverter is responsible for making the solar system power match synchronously the power coming from the utility.
A typical photovoltaic system consists of solar modules mounted on a roof, wired to a shutoff switch then to your power inverter. The AC power is fed into your central electrical panel and distributed throughout your home. If your home can’t use the power it flows back into the grid for your later needs. By using net metering, the grid functions like a large storage battery with no cost or maintenance expense.
