The Photovoltaic / Solar Roof.
The solar roof is a roof that is fitted with photovoltaic panels that turn sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells.
Photovoltaic roof: operation
A solar roof consists of three major elements:
ELEMENT |
FUNCTION |
PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES |
Compounds of photovoltaic cells, they capture light and transform it into DC |
UPS |
It converts DC (direct current) into AC (alternating current) |
BATTERY |
It stores and distributes electricity in the house when the panels do not produce current |
Different types of photovoltaic cells
There are different types of photovoltaic cells, which do not have the same performance, and therefore not the same price. The most used are:
CELL TYPE |
PERFORMANCE |
MONOCRYSTALLINE SILICON CELLS |
Excellent (150 Wp/m²) |
MULTICRYSTALLINE SILICON cells (OR POLYCRYSTALLINE) |
Good (about 100 Wp/m²) |
AMORPHOUS SILICON CELLS |
Low (about 60 Wp/m²) |
The performance of photovoltaic panels is generally guaranteed to be at least 80% of its initial performance for at least 25 years.
Wp = Watt peak and corresponds to the maximum electric power produced by photovoltaic panels in standard light conditions.
Solar roof: integration
There are two types of photovoltaic panels for the roof:
- Integrated: this form is the most aesthetic but has a higher installation cost.
- Superimposed: this is the simplest solution. However, it results in a less integrated aesthetic finish.
Solar roof: maintenance
Photovoltaic roofs are very robust. They therefore require little or no maintenance. Simply clean the panels occasionally to remove dust or dirt which can reduce the efficiency of photovoltaic cells.
Disadvantages of a solar roof
- A house in an area which receives little sun requires a larger area of panels.
- The initial investment is high.
Financial aid
The US federal government provides a 30% tax credit against the cost of installation of approved photovoltaic cells for both existing and new properties whether or not it is your main residence or secondary residence (does not apply to rental property).