Residential Photovoltaic Systems

5kW ground-mount array for grid-connected home in Waimea, Hawai‘i

Peter with typical off-grid battery system.

Solar electric power or photovoltaic energy has been the mainstay for powering remote homes in Hawai‘i and the world for the last 15 years.  A survey performed by HELCO back in 1996 estimated that the Big Island had 6,000 remote solar electric systems installed.  Although high initial prices have held the market back, a combination of improved technology, limited utility infrastructure and ever increasing oil and energy prices have caused the solar energy market to boom in recent years.

Today, new home builders are requesting solar electric power systems because of their reliability and environmental friendliness.  Powered by Hawaii’s tropical sunshine, locally generated Photovoltaic (PV) power is more reliable than the island utility because of the inherent simplicity of a system that has no moving parts and does not rely on transmission lines that must span the entire island.  Today's home buying client is also interested in making a statement about their environmental consciousness especially in Hawaii.  PV is one of the most environmentally supportive purchases a person can make today, by producing their own power without consumption of fossil fuels and all of the costs associated with a fossil fueled lifestyle.

Further recognition of the acceptance of PV power has come from the Hawaii State legislature that has passed into law “Net Metering” which requires the utility to accept PV power generated by customers connected to the power grid.  These systems allow a customer to produce their own power and turn their meter backwards with excess energy.

Roland at a grid-connected home with battery backup.

PV power systems installed on a residence immediately increase the value of the property and will produce power for thirty years or more (30 years is the standard warranty for PV modules) at a cost permanently tied to the value of today’s dollar.  PV power systems actually increase in value over time because the cost of the alternative utility power will always be increasing.

Any home owner interested in hedging against the ever increasing cost of utility power and in increasing the value of their home with an environmentally friendly purchase will be hard pressed to find a better product than a PV power system. 

Roland with pole-mounted arrays connected to grid.