Common Solar Electricity Terms

The following terms should help you understand more about this blog's content. For more technical data go to www.uni-solar.com.

Amorphous silicon: Silicon that does not have a crystalline structure and which is not conductive.

Array sizing: A 1.8KwDC array requires about 315 square feet of roof our ground area; the 2.5KwDC array, 450 s.f. This generally applies to Uni-Solar modules, laminates and shingles.

Framed modules: Most PV cells come as framed modules. Uni=Solar modules consist of our amorphous silicon thin film bonded to sheet metal and finished with anodized aluminum framing. The US-64 is our "building block" and is about 2.5' x 4.5' or 11.25 s.f.

Grid-tied: All systems featured on this blog are tied into the area power grid. This usually entails net metering. Whatever surplus energy a system produces goes back into the grid and the system owner's meter will run in reverse thereby deducting kilowatt hours of charges. Credit is usually given at the wholesale rate per kilowatt hour.

Kilowatt Hour: The kilowatt-hour (symbolized kWh) is a unit of energy equivalent to one kilowatt (1 kW) of power expended for one hour (1 h) of time. The kilowatt-hour is not a standard unit in any formal system, but it is commonly used in electrical applications.

Photovoltaic: Converting light into electricity. Photo means "light" voltaic means "electric". Often referred to as "PV" for short. More commonly referred to as "solar electric".
www.solutionsforpower.com/glossary.html

PV Laminates: Uni-Solar PVLs are 15.5" wide and in various length. They are intended to fit a standard 16" galvalume standing metal seam for an all-metal roof. PVL weighs just 7/10 lb per square foot installed.

Solar shingles: Uni-Solar solar shingle is the same thin film as our modules and laminates but looks like a standard composite shingle when installed. The SHR-17 is an actual impermeable roofing material and comes in 7.3' strips. Like the laminate, Uni-Solar shingles weigh just 7/10 lb per square foot.

Stand-alone system: A PV system that is not connected to a power grid. The DC power generated by the PV cells is stored in batteries sufficient to meet the demand of a specific situation. With a rare occasion, this blog features only grid-tied PV systems.

System sizing: Whether turnkey installation (available only in coastal Southern California) or self-install kit, two sizes are available from Uni-Solar: 1.8kW and 2.5kW. These can be purchased in combinations if more power is desired. The average size sold in San Diego is a 5kW (two 2.5 kits) system which produces about 700kWHrs per month here. (See array sizing)

Triple-junction cells: All photovoltaic cells convert infrared light into energy. Uni-Solar cells convert infrared and two other bands of the sun's light into electricity. This means that energy is produced even under cloudy or shady conditions.

San Diego Leads the Solar Revolution

This blog features various solar electric (photovoltaic or PV) installations in San Diego County which utilize the thin-film cells made by United Solar Ovonic, LLC more commonly known as Uni-Solar.

California follows Japan and Germany in the amount of PV installations worldwide. There are several reasons for this. Obviously, it's pretty sunny here year-round and that sure helps. Incentives for solar and wind installations were passed by the California legislature in the late 90s that stimulated renewable energy investment. These incentives along with California's zest for new ideas and technologies contributed to clean energy growth. Yet perhaps the biggest reason is what I call the "backlash factor." Electricity rates of the big three publicly-held utilities--Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric--took major hikes in 2000 due to poorly written deregulation legislation that gave way to the "energy crisis" manipulated by Enron with Duke Energy, El Paso Corp., Dynegy and Reliant Energy in the fray. It didn't take long for California residents to become the most efficient users of electricity in the country. Did this translate to lower energy rates? No, of course not. But most Californians are coping and the heavier consumers are turning to solar as a possible solution.

As a senior Uni-Solar sales consultant in San Diego, I have first-hand experience with the versatility and reliability of Uni-Solar PV. Whether framed modules, PV laminates for metal roofs or solar shingles, my customers have all realized the carefree dependability of Uni-Solar cells; have significantly decreased their energy bills; and have reduced their share of greenhouse gas emissions by using the clean, renewable energy we all receive from the sun.

A basic glossary of terms can be found on this blog but additional information can be found at www.uni-solar.com. More than anything, this blog intends to stimulate today's electricity ratepayer--that's all of us--into thinking about and utilizing the sun's energy; our cleanest, safest and most reliable power source.

Uni-Solar offers turnkey installations in San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles Counties. We also offer complete grid-tied kits of either framed modules, laminates or shingles that the handy homeowner can install himself or contract with a certified solar installer in his area. Inquiries for turnkey installations or kits should be directed to dbrands@cox.net.

The first installation featured on this blog will appear the week of June 20. It will contain a description of the system, customer reasons for purchasing it and several pictures. I will also add a Basic Glossary of terms common to residential PV systems. Please visit again.