SaskSolar will visit your site to determine the location in which your array could be mounted, the location of your main electrical panel and meter, and perform a review of your monthly power use records.
SaskSolar will use your monthly and yearly power bill data to determine your projected power use. Your system is then designed to produce enough power to meet your projected yearly power demand.
SaskSolar is dedicated to making this process as easy as possible for you. Handling the applications, permitting, construction, and commissioning of your new system. Check out https://sasksolar.com/how-it-works/ for an overview of the process.
Solar panels come with a 25 year linear power production warranty. As solar panels age, their power output is reduced by 0.5% annually. Keep in mind solar systems are generally maintenance-free and can last up to 40 years.
If you aren't generating your own solar power, you are at the mercy of rising power costs. By installing a solar system on your home, you will be guaranteeing your costs for the next 25+ years!
SaskSolar offers web-connected monitoring of your inverter which allows you to view your power generation in real time over the internet or on your mobile phone. You can also track the performance of your system by reviewing your monthly power bill.
Even though our winters may be long and cold, Saskatchewan receives MORE SOLAR IRRADIATION THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN CANADA. Based on sunlight hours alone, research data has shown that Saskatchewan systems can generate over 16% more power than a similar sized array located in Ontario, which is considered to be the solar generation capital of Canada. A benefit to Saskatchewan's cold winters is that solar panels operate at their peak efficiency in sub-zero temperatures. The Land of the Living Skies is an excellent location for your solar project.
No matter the layout, orientation, or size of your home there are many different options available to suit your unique project. For roof mounted systems, a south facing sloped roof is ideal for solar generation. If your roof does not face south or you have a flat roof, racking systems are available to elevate and orientate your panels to the south. For ground mounted systems, ideal locations are open areas that do not have trees or buildings located immediately south of the project site.
If you are not utilizing electricity when the system is producing power, your system will send the excess energy back to the SaskPower grid. The power will be credited on your monthly bill. If you generate more power than you use in a month, your credits will be banked for future billing.
You may be surprised to learn that solar panels actually become more efficient in cold weather. That is because solar panels convert light (not heat) into energy. This means they generate more power per hour than hot days. Not to mention, white snow can also reflect light improving PV performance. Depending on the slope of your panels, snow accumulation may be the only threat to your system generation. However, SaskSolar takes this into account when designing your system and we will minimize this risk through careful design.
In most cases, your panels will be installed at an angle that will naturally shed snow. If you have a low slope roof and your panels become covered with snow, your system generation will be reduced. You can clear snow from ground level using a roof rake. Note that you should never access the roof of your home without proper fall protection training and anchor points.
However, most clients choose to let the snow melt off or blow off as it does on the rest of the roof. Keep in mind that SaskSolar takes into account days of snow cover when designing your system.
Solar panels are constructed and designed to withstand significant impact from stones between 25mm-30mm in diameter. In an extreme weather event, abnormally large hail stones (for example, tennis ball or baseball sized hail) may cause damage to your system. In this event, home insurance would be engaged to cover your loss.
If you plan to increase your power consumption, it would be viable to oversize your system to account for this increase. The Net Metering Program allows you to bank excess power credits. SaskSolar can help you plan your system for a future expansion.
The Net Metering Program allows a SaskPower customer to connect their solar generation system to the SaskPower grid utilizing a net meter. SaskPower will credit the customer for excess power generated on their power bill. Excess credits are banked on your account.
Solar panels are most efficient when angles are installed at a tilt that is perpendicular to the suns rays. Since the angle of the sun changes throughout the year, SaskSolar will design a system with the optimum tilt angle to maximize your power generation.
An inverter is a key electrical component in a solar array that uses specially designed microelectronics to change DC power generated by a solar panel to AC power that is found throughout the wiring of your home.
Solar energy maps display the amount of energy that a solar photovoltaic system can produce based on the intensity of light that reaches the Earth’s surface. This means provinces like Saskatchewan with high solar energy potential will need less solar panels to produce the same amount of energy than provinces with less solar energy potential.
Learn more at EnergyHub.org.
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