Will solar photovoltaics (PV) work in Ohio?
Yes, Ohio receives adequate sun to make solar PV effective. Ohio gets a daily average of 4 full hours of sun. While this is not as many hours as sunny California, it is roughly only 25% less. Germany is the world leader in solar installations; they receive approximately the same daily average as Ohio.

What size system do I need?
For residential, the average home uses anywhere between 500-1000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electrical energy per month. A 4 to 9 KW solar electric system would be required to offset the average home's entire electric consumption, i.e. reduce your electric bill, on average, to zero. Many people will choose a smaller system, for example 2-3 KW, due to cost and limited roof space.

Also, a key point when considering solar power is that is always more cost effective to make the easy energy conservation changes first; i.e, installing compact fluorescent light bulbs, Energy Star rated appliances, timers and controllers, etc. Every dollar saved in electricity consumption before sizing your solar array will dramatically reduce the cost and size of the array.

How much will it cost?
Typically a residential customer can expect to pay approximately $10 per installed Watt. For example, a 3 KW system can cost about $ 30,000. The good news is that there are federal tax incentives and government grants that may be available to you to help offset the cost of the system by as much as 50%.

A larger commercial array may cost $8 - $9 per installed Watt. Ground mounting or pole mounting the array will add to the installed cost.

What is Net Metering?
Net Metering is a purchasing agreement between the solar electric owner (you) and the electric utility (Ohio Edison, for example) to get credit for the surplus electricity you generate and send back to the electric grid. In short, the electric company agrees to buy back the surplus electricity that you create.

For instance, on a sunny day you may produce twice the electricity that you use during that day. The excess electricity runs backwards though your utility meter and into the grid- making your meter spin backwards. At night, or on cloudy days, your meter will spin forwards and you will use electricity from the grid. The overall effect is to be charged for only the "net" electricity that you receive from the grid.

How much roof space does the system need?
Typically, a system requires approximately 100 square feet per KW. A 3KW residential array requires approximately 300 square feet of roof space, or equivalently a 10 x 30 foot area.

Do I have to put the solar panels on my roof?
No, there are other options such as pole mount or ground mount systems.

Do the panels need to face south?
South facing is best, but panels installed facing south-east or south-west can generate a very high percentage (>90%) of energy as compared to a south facing solar array.

How long will the solar electric system last?
Solar panel warranties can be as long as 25 years (at 80% of the original power output). Expected life of a solar array is expected to be greater than 30 years. The inverter, which converts the DC solar electricity into useable AC, can be warranteed for 10 years with an expected life of 15 years.

What kind of maintenance will the system require?
Grid tied solar electric systems (without batteries) require very little maintenance. Monitoring the system output is the best way to know if there is a problem.

What does a solar PV array do to my property value?
Energy conservation and renewable generation adds value to a home. National surveys have shown that for every $1,000.00 saved per year, $20,000.00 is added to a home's value.

How long does it take to install a PV system?
Typical residential systems can take 3 days to a week to install. Systems mounted on the ground and systems with batteries are more complex, and can take longer. Commercial systems can take several weeks to more than a month to install, depending upon the size and type of installation.