Photovoltaic (photo = light, volt = unit of electrical voltage) is the specialist term for electricity produced using solar energy. Photovoltaic refers to the direct conversion of sunlight into electric current using solar cells.
There are many of reasons why someone might decide to invest in solar energy. Some people buy solar products to preserve the earth’s finite fossil-fuel resources and to reduce air pollution.
Others would rather store the energy produced in order to be used later on for the various electricity needs especially in remote areas where there is no National Grid. Yet some others like the security of reducing the amount of electricity they buy from their utility, because it makes them less vulnerable to future price increases. For systems over 20kW, the purchase of a PV system is an ideal, zero risk, low maintenance and attractive, high-return investment.
Almost any building is suitable for a solar energy system. It is required to have a roof or façade which ideally faces south. Shading caused by trees or houses must be avoided.
A solar energy system generates energy and therefore reduces the use of conventional energy from oil, gas, coal or uranium. CO2 emissions are reduced accordingly. Furthermore, environmental damage through transport, extraction and processing of raw materials or through the final storage of consumed fuels is avoided.
It’s much more beneficial for the consumer to enter the 15-year contract with EAC since he can either choose to have 55% subsidy and sell the generated power to EAC at the price of 22.5 euro cent / kWh or 0% subsidy and sell the generated power to EAC at the price of 38 euro cent / kWh.
Having installed a 5kW system by choosing either of the two plans, the client may have a two-month income of about €300 euro (sale at 22.5 cent) and €500 (sale at 38 cent), which basically cancels out the average electricity bill of a household.
A photovoltaic solar system generally consists of photovoltaic modules and a device called an inverter.
The direct current generated by solar energy is transformed by the inverter into alternating current (AC). If the system is connected to the National Grid, the Electricity Authority (EAC) purchases the generated power of the PV system through a feed-in meter. In the case of a stand-alone system, solar electricity is mainly stored in batteries for use at a later time.
1. A surface area of about 30m² - 40m² is needed, which should be the least available roof area with no shadow from features such as antennas, buildings etc.
2. The sloping surface should ideally point in a southerly direction. An easterly or westerly direction is functional, but less substantial gains should be expected if this is the case. Flat roofs are also suitable for PV systems. A special mounting structure is used for such roofs and a free surface of 45m² - 50 m² is required.
As a rule of thumb for a photovoltaic system, the energy yield per year and per system is between 1600kWh – 1700kWh per kW of installed output.
This means that a 5kWp photovoltaic system on a tiled roof covering about 40 square meters in size produces approximately €1700 - €1900 euro per annum.
In order for a photovoltaic system to be installed in Cyprus, permission from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism is required. The specific documents which should be submitted with the application for the government subsidy, regarding the purchase and installation of a photovoltaic system are:
Maintenance requirements are negligible. The modules are self-cleaned through rainfall when they are attached on a tiled or flat roof with a slope of at least 10°. Generally, the cleanliness of system panels ensures greater efficiency.
