What is Solar PV?
Solar PV systems use an abundant energy source, the sun, to generate electricity. PV systems have no moving parts and require virtually no maintenance. When sunlight hits the solar module, the energy is converted to direct-current (DC) electricity. The DC electricity passes through an inverter, which converts it into alternating-current (AC) electricity, which the building can immediately use. When more energy is required than the PV system can produce, energy is drawn from the grid and read by a meter.
For each municipal installation in the ALBERTA SOLAR project, a website monitor transfers real-time information about the PV system to the project's website at www.lassothesun.ca.
Each system allows more solar modules to be added later so as to increase the amount of electricity generated.