Table of Contents :

SOLAR TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ES-1
Solar Energy Market Driving Forces ES-1
Solar Energy Market Shares ES-3
Photovoltaic Solar Energy Market Forecasts ES-5
Solar Industry Outlook ES-6
100 Successful Trials And Reference Accounts ES-7
Solar Utility Market Driving Forces ES-8
Commercial Solar ES

1. SOLAR TECHNOLOGY MARKET DESCRIPTION AND MARKET DYNAMICS 1-1
1.1 Solar Technologies 1-1
1.1.1 Research Initiatives 1-2
1.1.2 Thin Film Material Layers 1-3
1.2 Photovoltaic Conversion Of Sun Light 1-4
1.2.1 Solar Panel Orientation 1-6
1.3 Thin Film Solar Materials 1-8
1.4 Sunlight Intensity in Various Regions 1-9
1.4.1 Sunshine Index 1-13
1.4.2 Economics of PV 1-14
1.5 Variety of Solar Panel Installations 1-16
1.5.1 Off-Grid Systems: 1-21
1.6 Solar Technology 1-25
1.6.1 Cost-Competitive Solar 1-25
1.6.2 Crystalline-Silicon Panels 1-27
1.6.3 Thin-Film Solar 1-27
1.6.4 Silicon or CIGS 1-28
1.7 World’s Largest PV Installation German Solar 1-31
1.8 The Basics of Solar Electricity 1-33
1.9 Utility Power Positioning 1-35
1.9.1 Utility Solar Decision Making 1-36
1.10 U.S. Building Construction Industry 1-38
1.11 Silicon Panels Harvest More Energy 1-41
1.11.1 Solar Real Estate 1-42
1.12 Smart Electric Grid Overhaul: Utility 1-43
1.12.1 IBM Smart Grid 1-43
1.12.2 U.S. Electric Grid Needs Major Overhaul: Utility 1-44
1.12.3 Flexible Solar Cells With Silicon Wires 1-44
1.13 Competition and Advanced PV Technologies 1-46
1.14 Parts Of The Solar Cell Manufacturing Process 1-47
1.14.1 Silicon Crystal Growing or Casting Plants 1-47
1.14.2 Solar Cell Plants 1-49
1.14.3 Module Assembly Plants 1-51
1.14.4 Systems Assembly 1-52
1.15 Greenhouse Gases 1-53
1.16 Productionizing Technologies 1-53
1.17 Era Of Cheap Energy 1-55
1.17.1 Unprecedented Level Of Development Worldwide 1-56
1.17.2 Population Increases 1-57
1.18 Tackling Climate Change 1-57
1.19 Power From the Sun 1-58
1.19.1 PV Industry 1-59
1.19.2 SGS Solar Services 1-60   

2. SOLAR TECHNOLOGY MARKET SHARES AND FORECASTS 2-1
2.1 Solar Energy Market Driving Forces 2-1
2.2 Solar Energy Market Shares 2-3
2.2.1 First Solar Thin Film Monolithic Integration On Glass 2-6
2.2.2 Sharp Solar Cells 2-6
2.2.3 Sharp Increasing The Size Of The Output To
Maintain Leading Market Share 2-8
2.2.4 Trina Solar Limited Square Monocrystalline Cell 2-9
2.2.5 SolarWorld Residential 2-10
2.2.6 Suntech Solar Cells 2-11
2.2.7 Canadian Solar 2-13
2.2.8 BP Solar Core Markets Monocrystalline And
Multicrystalline Cells 2-14
2.2.9 LDK 2-14
2.2.10 Yingli 2-15
2.2.11 CIGS 2-15
2.2.12 Q-Cells CIGS Module Positioning 2-16
2.2.13 Ascent Solar Semiconductor Deposition 2-16
2.2.14 NanoSolar and MiaSole Thin Film Technology 2-17
2.2.15 Ascent Solar Thin Film Photovoltaic Devices
CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide). 2-17
2.2.16 Shenzhen Sunshine Electronics Manufacturing
Solar Lighting 2-18
2.3 Photovoltaic Solar Energy Market Forecasts 2-18
2.3.1 Solar Industry Outlook 2-21
2.3.2 100 Successful Trials And Reference Accounts 2-21
2.3.3 Solar Utility Market Driving Forces 2-23
2.3.4 Grid Parity 2-28
2.4 Multiple, Large, Working Solar Energy Installations 2-40
2.5 Commercial Solar 2-41
2.5.1 Residential Solar 2-54
2.5.2 Government, Enterprise, and Capital Market
Funding of Solar Energy Initiatives 2-61
2.5.3 President Obama¡¯s Energy Plan 2-62
2.5.4 Crystalline Modules vs. Thin Film Solar 2-66
2.5.5 Monocrystalline Modules 2-70
2.5.6 CdTe Thin Film Technology 2-74
2.5.7 CIGS Thin Film Technology Photovoltaic Effect 2-80
2.5.8 CIGS On Glass 2-81
2.5.9 Thin Film Vs. Monocrystalline or Polycrystalline 2-81
2.5.10 Solar Market Transitions 2-83
2.5.11 Solar Energy Conversion Efficiency 2-85
2.5.12 Solar Energy Megawatts Shipped 2-88
2.5.13 Solar Energy Cost per Watt 2-91
2.5.14 Solar Manufacturing Capacity 2-91
2.5.15 Shenzhen Sunshine Electronics Manufacturing Capacity 2-93
2.5.16 Solarfun 2010 Capacity Expansion 2-93
2.5.17 Solar Manufacturing Run Rate 2-95
2.5.18 Solar Module Conversion Efficiency 2-95
2.6 PV Technology, Production and Cost, 2009 Forecast 2-103

3. SOLAR PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 3-1
3.1 Commercial Solar 3-1
3.2 First Solar Commercial Systems 3-2
3.2.1 First Solar Positioning 3-3
3.2.2 First Solar Energy High Performance. High Volume 3-4
3.2.3 First Solar Commercial-Scale Solutions 3-6
3.2.4 First Solar Largest Solar Power Plant Built In
China by Americans 3-12
3.3 Trina Solar 3-12
3.4 Energy From Trina Solar Modules 3-14
3.4.1 Trina Solar Monocrystalline Modules 3-16
3.4.2 Trina Solar TSM-PC05, 215W to 235W
Multicrystalline Module 3-21
3.5 Q Cells 3-39
3.5.1 Q-Cells CIGS Modules 3-39
3.5.2 Q Cells Cdte Solar Modules 3-50
3.6 Sharp 3-50
3.6.1 Sharp Solar Cell With The Highest Efficiency Of
Conversion In The World 3-54
3.6.2 Sharp Mass Production Of Solar Cells 3-54
3.7 Mia Sole 3-56
3.7.1 Mia Sole Thin Film CIGS Solar 3-56
3.7.2 MiaSol¨¦¡¯s CIGS Solar Cell 3-59
3.7.3 Miasol¨¦ CIGS-Based Thin Film Solar Panel Manufacturing 3-62
3.8 Nanosolar 3-64
3.8.1 Nanosolar Commercial Production 3-65
3.9 Palios Flexible Glass 3-65
3.10 BYD 3-67
3.10.1 China BYD to invest $3.3 billion in solar battery plant 3-67
3.11 Armageddon Energy 3-68
3.12 United Solar Ovonic 3-68
3.13 NuvoSun 3-68
3.13.1 Dow Chemical / NuvoSun 3-69
3.14 Kyocera 3-70
3.15 SunWize Technologies 3-77
3.16 Sanyo 3-78
3.16.1 Sanyo Hit Solar Panels 3-79
3.17 REC 3-83
3.18 Canadian Solar 3-86
3.19 GE Solar Panel 3-87
3.20 BP Solar 3-88
3.20.1 British Petroleum BP Solar Panels 3-88
3.21 SolarWorld 3-90
3.22 Suntech 3-91
3.22.1 Suntech HiPerformaTM Modules 3-93
3.22.2 Suntech Solar Cells 3-96
3.23 Uni-Solar 3-97
3.24 HelioVolt 3-97
3.25 Ascent Solar 3-98

3.26 Ascent Solar 3-99
3.27 Solarion Process 3-100
3.28 Global Solar 3-101
3.29 JA Solar 3-101
3.30 Suniva Solar Cells Set For Aerotropolis Atlanta 3-101
3.30.1 Suniva 3-103
3.30.2 Suniva® Intersection Of High Efficiency And Low Cost 3-103
3.30.3 Suniva Collaborating in Solar 3-103
3.30.4 Suniva Product Offerings: 3-105
3.30.5 Suniva Intersection of High Efficiency and Low Cost 3-111
3.31 Utility-Scale Solar Solutions 3-114
3.32 First Solar Utility-Scale Solutions 3-114
3.33 Trina Solar Utility 3-118
3.34 Kyocera Solar Utility 3-120
3.35 Sharp Utility Solar Installation 3-123
3.35.1 Sharp Utility-Scale Products 3-125
3.36 Scatec Solar 3-128
3.36.1 Scatec Solar Utility Project Development Phase 3-130
3.37 Residential Solar 3-132
3.38 Sharp Residential 3-133
3.38.1 Sharp OnEnergy™ Roof-Mounted
Solar Electric Systems 3-134
3.38.2 Sharp High-Power Monocrystalline
Residential Solar Modules 3-135
3.39 First Solar U.S. Residential and Small
Commercial Solutions 3-136
3.40 SolarCity 3-138
3.41 Scatec Solar Residential 3-138
3.42 Solar Energy Initiatives 3-142
3.43 SolarWorld Residential 3-144
3.44 Consumer Solar 3-150
3.45 G24 Innovations 3-150
3.45.1 G24 The Solar Power Lamp 3-152
3.46 Smart Grid 3-155
3.47 Petra Solar Pole Based Solar Collectors 3-156

4. SOLAR STRATEGY, TECHNOLOGY, AND
INDUSTRY SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS 4-1
4.1 Solar Panel Technologies 4-1
4.1.1 Thin Film Solar Cells Amorphous Silicon 4-2
4.1.2 Thin Film Solar Cells Cadmium Telluride 4-2
4.1.3 Thin Film Solar Cells CIGS
(Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) 4-3
4.1.4 Miasol¨¦ Copper-Indium-Gallium-Diselenide Films
Conversion Efficiency Confirmation From NREL 4-3
4.1.5 Thin-Film On Glass Substrate 4-5
4.1.6 Ascent Solar Putting CIGS On A Polymeric Or
Plastic Substrat

For more information, please contact :
http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/Photovoltaic-Solar-Panel-Market-Shares-Strategies-and-Forecasts-Worldwide-2010-to-2016-38099.html

Photovoltaic Solar Panel Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2010 to 2016

Table of Contents :  

SOLAR TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ES-1
Solar Energy Market Driving Forces ES-1
Solar Energy Market Shares ES-3
Photovoltaic Solar Energy Market Forecasts ES-5
Solar Industry Outlook ES-6
100 Successful Trials And Reference Accounts ES-7
Solar Utility Market Driving Forces ES-8
Commercial Solar ES

1. SOLAR TECHNOLOGY MARKET DESCRIPTION AND MARKET DYNAMICS 1-1
1.1 Solar Technologies 1-1
1.1.1 Research Initiatives 1-2
1.1.2 Thin Film Material Layers 1-3
1.2 Photovoltaic Conversion Of Sun Light 1-4
1.2.1 Solar Panel Orientation 1-6
1.3 Thin Film Solar Materials 1-8
1.4 Sunlight Intensity in Various Regions 1-9
1.4.1 Sunshine Index 1-13
1.4.2 Economics of PV 1-14
1.5 Variety of Solar Panel Installations 1-16
1.5.1 Off-Grid Systems: 1-21
1.6 Solar Technology 1-25
1.6.1 Cost-Competitive Solar 1-25
1.6.2 Crystalline-Silicon Panels 1-27
1.6.3 Thin-Film Solar 1-27
1.6.4 Silicon or CIGS 1-28
1.7 World’s Largest PV Installation German Solar 1-31
1.8 The Basics of Solar Electricity 1-33
1.9 Utility Power Positioning 1-35
1.9.1 Utility Solar Decision Making 1-36
1.10 U.S. Building Construction Industry 1-38
1.11 Silicon Panels Harvest More Energy 1-41
1.11.1 Solar Real Estate 1-42
1.12 Smart Electric Grid Overhaul: Utility 1-43
1.12.1 IBM Smart Grid 1-43
1.12.2 U.S. Electric Grid Needs Major Overhaul: Utility 1-44
1.12.3 Flexible Solar Cells With Silicon Wires 1-44
1.13 Competition and Advanced PV Technologies 1-46
1.14 Parts Of The Solar Cell Manufacturing Process 1-47
1.14.1 Silicon Crystal Growing or Casting Plants 1-47
1.14.2 Solar Cell Plants 1-49
1.14.3 Module Assembly Plants 1-51
1.14.4 Systems Assembly 1-52
1.15 Greenhouse Gases 1-53
1.16 Productionizing Technologies 1-53
1.17 Era Of Cheap Energy 1-55
1.17.1 Unprecedented Level Of Development Worldwide 1-56
1.17.2 Population Increases 1-57
1.18 Tackling Climate Change 1-57
1.19 Power From the Sun 1-58
1.19.1 PV Industry 1-59
1.19.2 SGS Solar Services 1-60    

2. SOLAR TECHNOLOGY MARKET SHARES AND FORECASTS 2-1
2.1 Solar Energy Market Driving Forces 2-1
2.2 Solar Energy Market Shares 2-3
2.2.1 First Solar Thin Film Monolithic Integration On Glass 2-6
2.2.2 Sharp Solar Cells 2-6
2.2.3 Sharp Increasing The Size Of The Output To
Maintain Leading Market Share 2-8
2.2.4 Trina Solar Limited Square Monocrystalline Cell 2-9
2.2.5 SolarWorld Residential 2-10
2.2.6 Suntech Solar Cells 2-11
2.2.7 Canadian Solar 2-13
2.2.8 BP Solar Core Markets Monocrystalline And
Multicrystalline Cells 2-14
2.2.9 LDK 2-14
2.2.10 Yingli 2-15
2.2.11 CIGS 2-15
2.2.12 Q-Cells CIGS Module Positioning 2-16
2.2.13 Ascent Solar Semiconductor Deposition 2-16
2.2.14 NanoSolar and MiaSole Thin Film Technology 2-17
2.2.15 Ascent Solar Thin Film Photovoltaic Devices
CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide). 2-17
2.2.16 Shenzhen Sunshine Electronics Manufacturing
Solar Lighting 2-18
2.3 Photovoltaic Solar Energy Market Forecasts 2-18
2.3.1 Solar Industry Outlook 2-21
2.3.2 100 Successful Trials And Reference Accounts 2-21
2.3.3 Solar Utility Market Driving Forces 2-23
2.3.4 Grid Parity 2-28
2.4 Multiple, Large, Working Solar Energy Installations 2-40
2.5 Commercial Solar 2-41
2.5.1 Residential Solar 2-54
2.5.2 Government, Enterprise, and Capital Market
Funding of Solar Energy Initiatives 2-61
2.5.3 President Obama¡¯s Energy Plan 2-62
2.5.4 Crystalline Modules vs. Thin Film Solar 2-66
2.5.5 Monocrystalline Modules 2-70
2.5.6 CdTe Thin Film Technology 2-74
2.5.7 CIGS Thin Film Technology Photovoltaic Effect 2-80
2.5.8 CIGS On Glass 2-81
2.5.9 Thin Film Vs. Monocrystalline or Polycrystalline 2-81
2.5.10 Solar Market Transitions 2-83
2.5.11 Solar Energy Conversion Efficiency 2-85
2.5.12 Solar Energy Megawatts Shipped 2-88
2.5.13 Solar Energy Cost per Watt 2-91
2.5.14 Solar Manufacturing Capacity 2-91
2.5.15 Shenzhen Sunshine Electronics Manufacturing Capacity 2-93
2.5.16 Solarfun 2010 Capacity Expansion 2-93
2.5.17 Solar Manufacturing Run Rate 2-95
2.5.18 Solar Module Conversion Efficiency 2-95
2.6 PV Technology, Production and Cost, 2009 Forecast 2-103

3. SOLAR PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 3-1
3.1 Commercial Solar 3-1
3.2 First Solar Commercial Systems 3-2
3.2.1 First Solar Positioning 3-3
3.2.2 First Solar Energy High Performance. High Volume 3-4
3.2.3 First Solar Commercial-Scale Solutions 3-6
3.2.4 First Solar Largest Solar Power Plant Built In
China by Americans 3-12
3.3 Trina Solar 3-12
3.4 Energy From Trina Solar Modules 3-14
3.4.1 Trina Solar Monocrystalline Modules 3-16
3.4.2 Trina Solar TSM-PC05, 215W to 235W
Multicrystalline Module 3-21
3.5 Q Cells 3-39
3.5.1 Q-Cells CIGS Modules 3-39
3.5.2 Q Cells Cdte Solar Modules 3-50
3.6 Sharp 3-50
3.6.1 Sharp Solar Cell With The Highest Efficiency Of
Conversion In The World 3-54
3.6.2 Sharp Mass Production Of Solar Cells 3-54
3.7 Mia Sole 3-56
3.7.1 Mia Sole Thin Film CIGS Solar 3-56
3.7.2 MiaSol¨¦¡¯s CIGS Solar Cell 3-59
3.7.3 Miasol¨¦ CIGS-Based Thin Film Solar Panel Manufacturing 3-62
3.8 Nanosolar 3-64
3.8.1 Nanosolar Commercial Production 3-65
3.9 Palios Flexible Glass 3-65
3.10 BYD 3-67
3.10.1 China BYD to invest $3.3 billion in solar battery plant 3-67
3.11 Armageddon Energy 3-68
3.12 United Solar Ovonic 3-68
3.13 NuvoSun 3-68
3.13.1 Dow Chemical / NuvoSun 3-69
3.14 Kyocera 3-70
3.15 SunWize Technologies 3-77
3.16 Sanyo 3-78
3.16.1 Sanyo Hit Solar Panels 3-79
3.17 REC 3-83
3.18 Canadian Solar 3-86
3.19 GE Solar Panel 3-87
3.20 BP Solar 3-88
3.20.1 British Petroleum BP Solar Panels 3-88
3.21 SolarWorld 3-90
3.22 Suntech 3-91
3.22.1 Suntech HiPerformaTM Modules 3-93
3.22.2 Suntech Solar Cells 3-96
3.23 Uni-Solar 3-97
3.24 HelioVolt 3-97
3.25 Ascent Solar 3-98

3.26 Ascent Solar 3-99
3.27 Solarion Process 3-100
3.28 Global Solar 3-101
3.29 JA Solar 3-101
3.30 Suniva Solar Cells Set For Aerotropolis Atlanta 3-101
3.30.1 Suniva 3-103
3.30.2 Suniva® Intersection Of High Efficiency And Low Cost 3-103
3.30.3 Suniva Collaborating in Solar 3-103
3.30.4 Suniva Product Offerings: 3-105
3.30.5 Suniva Intersection of High Efficiency and Low Cost 3-111
3.31 Utility-Scale Solar Solutions 3-114
3.32 First Solar Utility-Scale Solutions 3-114
3.33 Trina Solar Utility 3-118
3.34 Kyocera Solar Utility 3-120
3.35 Sharp Utility Solar Installation 3-123
3.35.1 Sharp Utility-Scale Products 3-125
3.36 Scatec Solar 3-128
3.36.1 Scatec Solar Utility Project Development Phase 3-130
3.37 Residential Solar 3-132
3.38 Sharp Residential 3-133
3.38.1 Sharp OnEnergy™ Roof-Mounted
Solar Electric Systems 3-134
3.38.2 Sharp High-Power Monocrystalline
Residential Solar Modules 3-135
3.39 First Solar U.S. Residential and Small
Commercial Solutions 3-136
3.40 SolarCity 3-138
3.41 Scatec Solar Residential 3-138
3.42 Solar Energy Initiatives 3-142
3.43 SolarWorld Residential 3-144
3.44 Consumer Solar 3-150
3.45 G24 Innovations 3-150
3.45.1 G24 The Solar Power Lamp 3-152
3.46 Smart Grid 3-155
3.47 Petra Solar Pole Based Solar Collectors 3-156

4. SOLAR STRATEGY, TECHNOLOGY, AND
INDUSTRY SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS 4-1
4.1 Solar Panel Technologies 4-1
4.1.1 Thin Film Solar Cells Amorphous Silicon 4-2
4.1.2 Thin Film Solar Cells Cadmium Telluride 4-2
4.1.3 Thin Film Solar Cells CIGS
(Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) 4-3
4.1.4 Miasol¨¦ Copper-Indium-Gallium-Diselenide Films
Conversion Efficiency Confirmation From NREL 4-3
4.1.5 Thin-Film On Glass Substrate 4-5
4.1.6 Ascent Solar Putting CIGS On A Polymeric Or
Plastic Substrat

For more information, please contact :
http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/Photovoltaic-Solar-Panel-Market-Shares-Strategies-and-Forecasts-Worldwide-2010-to-2016-38099.html

http://blogs.aarkstore.com/

From:Aarkstore Enterprise
Contact:Minu
Email: press@aarkstore.com
URL: www.aarkstore.com

Photovoltaic energy is a technology that help to transform solar light and rays into electricity. It was fiest discovered in 1839 year by a french scientist. He found out that when light direction was in one side of a simple battery, current may be increased. So in 1950s a space programm gave an intention to develop solar batteries. Today photovoltaic system are very important in usage of territories that are situated far away from electricity. They are actually used for lightning, water pumping out, like barrier for animals, telecommunications and much more.

Today photovoltaic energy becomes more popular with everyday all over the world. Photovoltaic systems nowadays become a main kind of producing electricity. Several millions of photovoltaic solar systems are use in the whole world, they have a magnificent power. Though is not used to the fullest and its potential is rather high than we know about. Solar photovoltaic energy is used more and more in houses and offices. So the preferable weather conditions for solar photovoltaic system to be placed are tropical countries.

China, India and many other developed countries are considered to be the main producers of solar photovoltaic systems. Solar photovoltaic energy and its system is widely spread in many spheres.It is used in usage of water and its system of cleaning, in the system of public health, communications, in transport services, in the security system and many different areas.

So for today solar photovoltaic energy and its systems are small and convenient in usage. They are used in places where there is no connection to the electricity.Solar photovoltaic energy systems may be also used in combination with another systems and technologies to increase and provide a new convenient complex or a system of far away energy usage.

For example an island Sagar that is situated in Ganga, India is working on a renewable sources of energy since 1996 year. Since this time there were built for more than 11 small solar photovolatic stations, so the energy is spread all over the villages and the citizens use the energy to  the fullest as they can.

Renewable energy is already popular and becomes more popular with everyday, it replaces an ordinary natural sources of energy that will disappear forever one day. Its worth to think about the usage of the renewable energy and its further benefits. Our future will surely be connected with renewable energy and our mission is to try save our natural sources of energy at least for today.

Do you want to reduce your utility costs and help the environment at the same time? What about using the sun to power your home? There are two different kinds of solar power that have been gaining in popularity in recent years.

Solar thermal is usually black with a matte finish. It collects heat energy from the sun and can be used to heat things. You often hear about solar hot water heaters. These are powered by solar thermal systems. The system heats water or another liquid, then the heat is transferred to water or air, or whatever you want to warm up. Commercially, solar thermal systems are used to power steam turbines. Lets look at the pros and cons of using solar thermal in your home.

Pros

Solar thermal systems are up to 70% efficient in collecting heat energy from the sun.

The technology is dependable and less complex than photovoltaics. This translates into lower costs and shorter payback periods, typically 3-5 year.

Less roof space is required than photovoltaic solar panels.

Cons

There is less thermal energy to collect in the winter, which is when you need to heat air and water more. Conversely, they experience peak performance in warmer weather, when you need the heat less.

Solar thermal systems are not as versatile as photovoltaics. Their energy can only be used to heat things. It cant be converted into electricity and used to power air conditioners and refrigerators.

Solar photovoltaic panels are usually blue and shiny. They collect sunlight and convert it to electricity, which can be used to power anything that runs on electricity. Lets look at the pros and cons of this type of system.

Pros

Photovoltaic systems collect the most energy during the summer when light from the sun is stronger and lasts longer each day. This coincides with the times you need to most electricity to power air conditioners and refrigerators.

Photovoltaic panels are environmentally friendly, producing clean electricity.

Photovoltaic systems have been around for more than 30 years. If you have it professionally installed, it usually has a long warranty of 25 years or more.

Electricity produced by photovoltaics can be used to power a variety of appliances, and can offset 60% or more of your household energy needs. The number of panels determines the amount of energy collected. You can install a system to accommodate small power needs, or expand the system to produce more power. The only limit is the size of your roof, or wherever youre going to install the panels. Often, the electric company charges you more per kilowatt when you use more power. This means that even a small system can save you a lot of money. Some power companies can even buy back the excess power produced by your solar panels.

Solar panels can protect the roof from wear. There are even panels that look like roofing materials, although they are a little pricier than the standard panels.

Cons

The upfront investment is larger and typically takes more than 10 years to pay for itself in terms of saved energy costs. The raw materials are expensive, and that translates into higher costs.

The average efficiency is still under 20%. The good news is that it is efficient to produce the energy in the same place that its going to be used your home. The power company loses a lot of electricity transporting it from its sources to your house.

The roof space required is significant, often the majority of your sun-facing roof. Factors such as shade from trees and roof pitch determine how much power can be collected by each panel.

Both types of systems are better, more environmentally friendly, and in the long run, less expensive than relying on energy from fossil fuels. There are state and federal incentives to help reduce the costs. Best of all, theyre not mutually exclusive. Some homes use both types of solar energy.