In recent years, with the improvement of people’s environmental awareness and the deepening of energy reform, coupled with the reduction of industrial chain costs and the rise of various household station construction models, more and more families have begun to consider installing photovoltaic power generation systems on their roofs. According to data from the National Energy Administration, as of the end of March 2024, China’s total household photovoltaic installed capacity will be 122.94GW. The cumulative number of installed households has exceeded 5 million.
Although household photovoltaic installations have grown rapidly in the past two years, overall, the penetration rate of household photovoltaic market is still low. According to data from Sepu Consulting, the penetration rate of household photovoltaics in 2023 is only 8%, which means that there are at least 60 million roofs to be developed. There are still many people who do not know enough about rooftop photovoltaics or have misunderstandings. Today, let’s talk about household photovoltaics.
1. What is household photovoltaics?
Household photovoltaic is a type of distributed photovoltaic, that is, by installing solar photovoltaic panels on the roof or courtyard of the house, solar energy is converted into electricity for household use, and the excess electricity is sold to the grid (self-generation and self-use, surplus electricity is connected to the grid), or the generated electricity is directly sold to the grid in full to obtain electricity fee income (full access to the grid).
2. What are the benefits of household photovoltaic?
Economic benefits: By installing household photovoltaic systems, families can use solar energy to generate electricity, reduce dependence on grid electricity, and thus reduce electricity bills. Excess electricity can also be sold to the grid for additional income.
Environmental protection and energy saving: Photovoltaic power generation is a clean energy that does not produce pollutants such as carbon dioxide. It helps to reduce carbon footprint, protect the earth’s home, do a little to slow down global warming, and leave a safer and more livable home for future generations.
Increase the utilization rate of roofs/courtyards: Roofs and courtyards usually have large vacant areas. Installing photovoltaic panels can make full use of these spaces, and increase the value per unit area without affecting normal use, that is, increase the utilization rate.
Energy independence: Photovoltaic systems enable families to achieve energy independence to a certain extent, especially in areas with unstable power supply or high electricity prices. Improving the safety and stability of electricity is of great significance to improving people’s lives.
Beautiful: Modern photovoltaic panels are beautifully designed and can be perfectly integrated with the roof to enhance the appearance of the house.
3. Precautions for installing household photovoltaics
Before deciding to install a household photovoltaic system, you need to pay attention to the following aspects:
Roof conditions: Make sure the roof structure is stable, has enough space and a good orientation, and is not blocked by trees or other buildings.
System design: According to the family’s electricity demand and roof conditions, choose the appropriate photovoltaic module array and inverter to ensure the best performance of the system.
Policy support: Understand the local power grid’s open capacity, grid connection requirements and power companies’ photovoltaic grid-connected electricity prices, etc. These policies may affect the return on investment and the benefits obtained.
Professional installation: Choose a qualified and experienced installation company to ensure the quality and safety of the system installation and avoid later maintenance and safety hazards.
4. Answers to common problems
Many families may encounter some problems during the installation and use of photovoltaic systems. The following are common problems and their answers:
1）How long is the life of a photovoltaic system?
Generally speaking, the service life of a photovoltaic panel is about 25 years, while the life of an inverter is 10 to 25 years. Regular maintenance and care can extend the service life of the system.
2）Can the photovoltaic system still generate electricity on cloudy or rainy days?
Although the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic system will decrease on cloudy or rainy days, it can still generate a certain amount of electricity. Therefore, this situation is usually taken into account when designing the system to ensure the stability of power supply throughout the year.
In addition, some new solar cell technologies can even generate electricity at night or on rainy days. These technologies generate electricity by storing the energy of visible and near-infrared light that is not absorbed and releasing this energy at the appropriate time.
3）How much does it cost to install a photovoltaic system?
The installation cost depends on the size of the system and the choice of components. Generally speaking, the initial investment is large, and the payback period is usually around 5 to 10 years, which varies depending on the region and the system design. For details, please consult the relevant power station construction companies.
4) Is it difficult to maintain the photovoltaic system?
The maintenance of the photovoltaic system is relatively simple but highly professional. The daily work mainly involves regular cleaning of photovoltaic panels, checking the operating status of the system and handling faults. Most installation companies will provide a certain period of warranty and after-sales service.
5) Is there a radiation problem with photovoltaic power stations?
Radiation can be divided into two types: ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation, and ionizing radiation is harmful to the human body. Photovoltaic power generation is non-ionizing radiation. Photovoltaic power generation mainly converts solar energy into electrical energy. Compared with daily household appliances, the radiation of the photovoltaic system is negligible, so it can be installed and used with confidence.
In general, installing a photovoltaic power station on the roof not only helps save electricity bills and protect the environment, but also improves asset utilization, and has become a new “green fashion”. However, before installation, it is very necessary to fully understand the characteristics of the photovoltaic system and related precautions to ensure long-term and stable returns.
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