Local Knowledge About Solar Electric Systems

Solar Electric systems are also known as "photovoltaic" systems - "photo" means light and "voltaic" means voltage. A photovoltaic system uses photovoltaic cells to directly convert sunlight into electricity. PV systems, as they're also called, can operate as stand-alone (require no utility power) or grid-interface (use utility power as a backup) systems. The primary obstacle to increased use of photovoltaics is their relatively high initial cost. However, new PV technology and improved manufacturing techniques have driven down the cost of solar electric systems to equal or better any other source.