The components of a solar panel system are:
- the solar panels - there are many different types and manufacturers - but they all convert sunlight to electricity - a mounting system - to hold and orient the panels - and make sure they don't blow away in a storm or shift in an earthquake - wiring and grounding - to handle high DC voltages and get the power down to the meters - power inverters - to convert the DC power from the solar panels to the AC power we all use - power meters and monitors - to measure the electricity production and alert us if there are any system interruptions. "The Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development predicts global silicon capacity will triple by the end of the decade, driving down the price of solar panels by as much as 40 percent."
Same Eaton, National Public Radio |
