PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV)

Using Solar energy to help heat the buildings hot water demand will contribute to the reduction in use of fossil fuels.Photovoltaic systems produce electricity from Solar Photovoltaic cells which are made from semi-conducting materials. The cells are connected together to form panels or strings which are also known as arrays. The required voltage determines the number of cells in a string.

The Solar cells are most commonly manufactured from layers of Silicon which, when subjected to sunlight, produce electrons which is converted into electricity. The greater the intensity of light the greater the flow of electricity. PV cells are produced in a number of different types with varying operating efficiencies, from thick films to glass laminated panels.

PV has no moving components it can be incorporated into many different types of construction and is low maintenance.

A typical PV system comprises a roof mounted array sized to accommodate the electricity consumption and budget. The direct current produced by the array is then converted to alternating current via an inverter.