Solar Photovoltaic Basics, A Study Guide for the NABCEP Entry Level Exam by Sean White4324

www.TechnicalBooksPdf.com
PV markets and applications
sunlight for lighting, heating and cooling. Using architecture for solar energy
is called “passive solar”.
PV on a rooftop can block sunlight from hitting the roof and keep a
building cooler, lowering an air conditioning bill, even if the system is
not turned on.
BENEFITS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PV SYSTEMS
Rooftop systems put the means of energy production on the roof, where
energy is used, and protect the building from UV rays. Sometimes the building
materials can be made from PV and this is called Building Integrated PV or BIPV.
Since BIPV is part of the building, as in the case with a solar roof tile, then
it will not have the same airflow underneath it as a regular PV system. When
a PV system is hotter like this, the PV does not work quite as well as if it were
operating cooler. BIPV is not as efficient as regular PV because it is hotter
and it is more expensive, since regular solar modules are mass- produced to
bring the cost down.
Solar grid- parity is when energy produced by PV is less expensive than
electricity produced by conventional means. Grid parity is happening
in different places in the world where there is a combination of
factors, such as expensive conventional electricity, good sunlight (solar
resource) and low installation and permitting costs. Hawaii has expensive
conventional energy and good sunlight. Germany has low installation
and permitting costs. As more places reach grid- parity, mass
production brings the price of PV systems down more and the gridparity
map grows!
Ground mounted PV systems are easy to install, but they take up valuable real
estate or even compete with endangered species.
9