Solar Panels In Charlotte, NC
Join the Charlotte solar movement with American-made solar panels and expert installation.
How Solar Panels Work
By using the power of the sun solar panels can produce electricity for your home. To generate the electricity, the panels follow this process:
- Sunlight hits the panels, which causes photons and electrons to interact. This creates an electrical current.
- This current travels from the panels to your solar inverter, where it is transformed into energy that can be used in your home.
- From here, the energy goes to your breaker box, which distributes the electricity throughout your home.
- Any unused electricity is stored in your Pink Energy battery backup to be accessed later. Depending on your area, this unused excess energy may be used for net metering purposes, meaning you can send it back to the grid for energy credits on your next electric bill.
Benefits Of Solar In Charlotte
There are plenty of reasons to add solar panels to your Charlotte home. Beyond the potential financial benefits, solar also benefits the environment and there’s the potential for a major return on your initial investment.
- Own Your Power — Protect your household from the impact of rising energy costs by creating your own electricity, which helps you rely less on the grid.
- Potentially Reduce Your Electric Bill — Since you’ll be producing your own energy, you could potentially save thousands of dollars on electricity bills over time.
- Qualify For Federal Tax Credit — Charlotte homeowners are eligible for a federal tax credit of up to 26% for installing residential solar panels.5
- Potentially Increase Your Property’s Value — Studies show that having solar panels installed may increase your home’s value, giving you a potential return on investment should you sell your home.
- Reduce Your Carbon Footprint — Solar energy is a clean alternative to fossil fuels, and can easily reduce your carbon footprint. This allows you to do your part for the planet!
What Happens To Excess Solar Energy?
Your solar panel system may generate more electricity than is needed to keep your home running at times. If you don’t use all the energy produced by your panels, there are a couple of ways it can still be useful.
Store excess energy in a backup battery.3
If your solar panels produce excess energy, the extra power can be stored in your Pink Energy battery backup to be used in the event of a grid power outage or at night when your panels are not producing any electricity. In addition, the stored energy can fill the gaps when your home’s solar panels are not producing at full capacity.
Use excess energy via net metering.
Net metering is the process of sending extra energy that your solar panels produce back to the grid in exchange for credits on future electric bills. If your panels produce extra energy, you can be credited for the energy you sell back (often at a 1-to-1 ratio), meaning that you sell it back at the same price you would buy it. This is a great incentive for using solar energy, but it’s important to note that some utility companies do not offer net metering. Availability, excess credits and other requirements vary by area and utility providers.
Solar Panel FAQs
How do solar panels work?
Solar panels operate using the power of the sun. Once sunlight hits the panels, electrons come loose from their atoms, forming an electrical circuit with the conductors in solar cells. These electrons traveling through the circuit create electricity.
How long do solar panels last in Charlotte?
Typically, a solar panel’s lifetime is about 25 years with proper care and maintenance. Pink Energy’s panels fall into this timeline; our panels last about 25 years.⁶
How many solar panels do I need in Charlotte?
How many solar panels are needed for your home depends on several factors: your electricity usage, how much shade your roof receives, your location, and the size of your home. Other factors may play a role in determining how many panels are necessary, but these are the most common.
Do solar panels work on cloudy days?
Clouds do not stop sunlight from reaching your solar panels. Even if you live in one of the cloudiest parts of the country, you’ll be able to make use of solar panels. It is worth noting that solar panels will not produce the same amount of electricity as locations that receive mostly sunny days.
Do solar panels need direct sunlight?
No, though that is the easiest way to generate electricity. As long as the sun is out, even if you can’t see it yourself, your solar panels will be working.
What direction should solar panels face in Charlotte?
We recommend your solar panels face south or west, as those directions get the most direct sun exposure. If your roof does not face in that direction, though, you can still produce electricity with solar panels!
How do you clean solar panels?
We recommend contacting professionals when you clean your solar panels for safety reasons. However, simple is best when it comes to cleaning your solar panels. Some clean water and a sponge or small towel will work in most cases. Do not use pressure washers on solar panels, as this can damage them.
How do you use solar panels during a power outage?
During an outage, you can make use of the energy from your solar panels by using a battery backup system. That will power up select portions of your home, enough to keep limited backup loads running for a limited amount of time.
How do you keep snow off your solar panels?
There is no one true way to keep snow off your solar panels. However, since solar panels are installed where they will get the most sun, snow should melt off with time once the sun does its work.
Are solar panels waterproof?
Yes! Pink Energy’s panels are protected with a sheet of glass. That glass covers up the delicate working parts that create the solar panels, so water is no trouble at all for your panels.
What is net metering?
Net metering is the process through which you send excess solar energy produced by your solar panels back to the grid for points off your upcoming electric bills. It may or may not be offered in your area, so check your local and state government sites for more information.⁸
How does net metering work?
