Solar has become the most popular green electricity option worldwide due to its simplicity and reliability. We are seeing an increasing number of residential and commercial property owners choosing to install a solar photovoltaic system in Chicago and its neighborhoods.
In this article, you’ll discover everything you need to know about PV technology and how, as an Illinois resident, you can benefit from it.
Photovoltaic (PV) technology is a method of generating electrical power by converting sunlight into electricity using different semiconducting materials and their chemical reactions. It’s widely used in residential, commercial, and industrial applications to produce clean, renewable energy. A solar photovoltaic system is one of the most accessible ways to generate green electricity.
Photovoltaic solar power generation is a tricky combination of chemical and physical processes. When sunlight strikes a semiconductor material, it excites electrons, causing them to flow and generate an electric current. The average solar photovoltaic system consists of:
So what is a PV system, and what are its core components? It’s safe to say that the modules are the main part of the photovoltaic system. Those cells are made of semiconducting materials such as silicon or thin-firm substances. The most effective cells are monocrystalline silicon (Mono-Si), characterized by their jet-black color. Blue polycrystalline (Poly-Si) is less efficient than Mono-Si options, but they are cheaper.
Thin-firm panels for the photovoltaic solar system are even more accessible, yet they are less efficient than Poly-Si options. We recommend you look closer at the Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (SIGS), Perovskite, and Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) panels. They are among the most efficient non-silicon options on the market.
An inverter is another crucial component of solar photovoltaic systems. It converts direct current (DC) from panels into alternating current (AC). We recommend examining pure sine wave inverters that suit your system capacity. These devices produce a smooth and clean sine wave output, similar to a grid. You can safely use them in your solar photovoltaic system to run home appliances such as fridges, TVs, computers, etc.
If you want a hybrid system to charge your devices using both grid and solar energy, choose a hybrid inverter. This allows you to use the benefits of solar photovoltaic energy and the grid’s reliability.
Batteries are not mandatory, yet they are still crucial components of a solar photovoltaic system as they allow you to power your home only with the power of the Sun. They work by storing DC (direct current) electricity generated by panels in the form of chemical energy and, when needed, converting it into AC power.
On average, a solar PV designer offers you to install lithium-ion batteries due to their high effectiveness and typical lifespan of 10-15 years. Another common option for a solar photovoltaic system is lead-acid batteries, which are less efficient and have an average lifespan of 5-8 years.
Photovoltaic energy is an eco-friendly way to power your appliances while reducing your carbon footprint and minimizing water pollution. Solar is a clean, renewable energy source that produces little to no greenhouse gas emissions, helping to mitigate climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. So, the answer to the “What is a PV main benefit?”, we can say that its eco-friendliness is the key advantage of this system.
While solar energy photovoltaic systems require substantial investment initially, in the long run, their installation becomes a highly cost-effective decision. Once installed, solar panels significantly reduce power bills. If you have a hybrid system, you can sell excess electricity to the power provider and receive net metering credits or cash, depending on the chosen incentive.
Solar power can be used in remote or off-grid areas where grid connection is impractical or too expensive. A solar photovoltaic system also benefits its users during natural disasters, when the house isn’t affected by the disaster but is indefinitely cut off from the grid. The most recent example is the California 2025 fires, where thousands lost their homes, and dozens of citizens lost reliable grid connections.
PV systems provide highly desired freedom from the city grid. If you need more power, you can scale up the system anytime. Currently, the average electricity consumption in the USA is 30 kW per day. However, this number can grow once you decide to use more powerful devices or get an electric car. PV technology gives you a reliable power source to tailor to your needs.
Speaking of the indirect benefits of photovoltaic panels, they increase property value by up to 10-15%. Homes with solar panels usually cost more than similar buildings without them, as buyers recognize the long-term energy savings of this decision.
While the solar photovoltaic system is a great sustainable solution, it still has its own challenges. The first limitation of panels is their weather dependence. They work only during the daytime, producing less power during short winter days. Clouds, rain, and snow also impact electricity generation, but it’s not as dramatic as most may think. Usually, bad weather can decrease production only to 10-20%.
Another challenge is the system’s price. The average cost per watt solar in the residential sector varies from $2.5 up to $3.3 per kW, while commercial solar cost per kWh is slightly lower at approximately $1.7-2.5 per kW. Considering that the solar system needs to produce approximately 6,000 kWh to power a house, you’ll need to pay:
$3 per kW x 6,000 kWh = $18,000 (for the average residential system)
$2.2 per kW x 6,000 kWh = $13,200 (for the same-size commercial system)
Consider that commercial panels are usually bigger than residential. If you want to place them on the roof of your business building, it may not be enough room for panels.
Those who want to create a hybrid or off-grid system with batteries, need to prepare an additional $5,000-$10,000 on batteries. Hi-end batteries from premium manufacturers can be even more expensive.
Another consideration about a solar photovoltaic system is the area requirements. Large-scale commercial PV systems need a lot of space, sometimes miles. It can lead to land-use conflicts. The design of residential systems is less complex, but it still demands careful calculations of roof size, orientation, and potential shading.
Meanwhile, you should keep in mind that even the best photoelectric panels have a limited lifespan. Typically, manufacturers list their panels as having a 15-25 year warranty. It means that during this period, your system will keep at least 80% of its listed capacity. For instance, if your new system has a peak capacity of 10,000 kW, at the end of the warranty, its peak capacity will be around 8,000 kW.
So, what is a PV ‘s main disadvantage? Most people will say the system’s initial price. However, in the long run, the system will pay out for itself and start bringing in net profits. It usually takes approximately 8 years for the system to pay out, but after that, the electricity from your panels is free. Considering the average panel lifespan of 20 years, you’ll get 10+ years of free and green electricity.
Source: ResearchGate
As solar becomes increasingly popular, this technology begins to gather more and more myths around itself. They can often deter people from exploring the potential of green power. Let’s address the 3 most common misconceptions about a solar photovoltaic system together.
One of the most common misconceptions is that “photovoltaic” (PV) and “solar panels” are two distinct technologies. In reality, this is not the case. Photovoltaic refers to the technology used to convert energy from the Sun’s rays into electricity, while solar panels are the physical components that house photovoltaic cells. So, it makes no sense to conduct comparisons like “PV panels vs solar panels” or “solar panels vs. photovoltaic”, as they are two terms for the same thing.
Many people believe solar panels need 10+ hours of sunlight daily to generate electricity, leading them to assume that solar power is not viable in states like Illinois. Meanwhile, solar panels can work in every climate.
The amount of sunlight still directly impacts electricity generation, but not as dramatically as the general public thought. You may get 20-30% less electricity than during winter due to cloudy shorter days, but it will still be enough to power your basic appliances.
Meanwhile, if you consider a net metering incentive, your summer generation may help you during winter. During summer, you can sell excess power to the city grid, receiving meandering credits. During winter, you can use those credits to lower your bills.
One of the most common misconceptions about solar panels is that they are too expensive. While the initial installation cost may seem high, there are many financing options and incentives that will make them more affordable in the long run.
If you consider purchasing the system with cash or with the loan where you are listed as the panels’ owner, you unlock a bunch of incentives like the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), where you can get up to 30% of the system as a tax credit. You can also sign up for a Net Metering or Illinois Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) Program incentive to receive credits to pay your electricity bills.
If you can’t afford the system but still want to benefit from green energy, consider financing options like leases, Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), or solar loans. In most cases, you aren’t considered the owner, so you can’t file for an incentive. But those options release you from the initial financial burden.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are a powerful and affordable solution for generating clean energy even in the cold and cloudy Illinois climate. They’re a reliable way to generate electricity, whether you want to go completely off-grid or lower your power bills. While a common myth states that Illinois is unsuitable for solar generation or that a system is too expensive for the average citizen, the truth is the opposite.
Illinois is a great place for both residential and commercial systems, and various financing and incentive options make this purchase an advantageous, eco-friendly option for anyone.
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