FAQ

What size of array is required to deliver an output of 1kWp? Who do I bill for the solar-generated electricity I produce and how do I bill them? How are solar panels fitted to a building? How is the electrical current fed into the electricity grid? How is it possible to tell if a house is suited to having a solar array installed? Is it worthwhile having a solar array in the North of France? Is it possible to integrate solar panels into roofing? Does the solar array have to be cleaned on a regular basis? Do shadows cast over a solar array affect its electricity yield? Is my house compatible with a solar array? What is an electrical inverter? What is a photovoltaic solar panel?

Photovoltaic solar panels offer a silent method of producing energy that is clean and which emits no CO2. Panels composed of solar cells installed by Solairedirect enable the sun’s rays to be converted into electricity. These cells essentially consist of silicon, a semi-conductive material derived from silica (sand), an inexhaustible, abundant (28% of the earth’s crust) material. These cells are mostly fitted to roofs and the patios and outside terraces of buildings, but may also be installed to building façades or even, in the case of high output power arrays, on the ground.

When photons (the particles to be found in the sun’s rays) hit the surface of a solar cell, they transfer their energy to the electrons in this cell. The movement of these electrons creates a flow of Direct Current which is then converted into Alternating Current via an electrical inverter so that it can be fed into the electricity grid.

What is photovoltaic electricity? What is meant by Watt-peak (Wp)? What makes Solairedirect different from other solar array suppliers? What is a solar panel’s ‘energy conversion efficiency’? How much does a solar array fitted to a roof weigh? How much will the annual yield of my solar array be? What is the difference between Solar hot water panels and solar panels? What effect does cloudy weather have on the energy yield of a solar panel? What are the main types of photovoltaic solar panels?