LightWave Solar Electric designs and installs solar electric (photovoltaic) turnkey systems throughout Davidson County/Nashville and the entire state of Tennessee. LightWave Solar is a system integrator, from design through installation and commissioning. We have a grid-tied system at our location for home and office use. With a background in electrical construction and training in PV design and installation, NABCEP certification, and a state electrical license, LightWave Solar is uniquely qualified to provide a fully functional, professionally installed system that we will be as proud of as you are. The following are a few general questions and comments for your consideration:

Grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) systems produce clean and renewable energy that is used in your house. However, if you make more than you use at any given time the electricity will go out on the grid to one of your neighbors. You are still paid for what you produce. This makes the system convenient because you won't have to worry about leaving for vacation or how it will be used. The electricity will just flow to where there is a demand.

What is your site like? You need roof or open space with a southern orientation, somewhere between SE and SW. The panels will require about 100 square feet per kilowatt installed. Home systems generally range from 2kw to 6kw, so that would be 200 to 600 square feet of roof space. It's a good idea to allow 20% additional area to be able to walk around the panels, if space is available. Amorphous silicon, such as Uni-Solar, requires more space; allow 170 square feet per kilowatt installed. Costs would be generally $12,500 to $50,000, with $17,000 to $34,000 being a typical range.  Roof shingles like Uni-solar SH-17 cost about 50% more to install.

Generation Partners. You can expect production of approximately 1200kwh a year average for each kw of installed capacity. The TVA Generation Partners program will credit 15 cents per kwh to your electric bill for all the energy the system produces. This effectively pays for about 2400 kwh in most distributor areas. Solar electricity is worth a premium because it doesn't pollute, conserves our precious water resources and helps reduce peak load on sunny days as well as reducing transmission losses. A separate meter is added that measures all the solar electricity right off the inverter. The local distributor will also make a one time payment to the owner of $500. Please visit www.tva.gov/greenpowerswitch/partners/index.htm.

There is a 30% federal tax credit (not a deduction, but a credit) for residential systems. This credit will be paid to you the April of the year following your installation.

Generally speaking, most people are motivated to install these systems by a desire to produce clean energy locally, an uncertainty over future energy prices, because of environmental concerns, and just for the contagious fun of producing energy on one's own. Since electricity produced by solar energy has no fuel costs, the future price of solar electricity is known, unlike conventional sources.

Solar panels come with 25 year warranties, and there is a widening view in the industry that they may last substantially longer than that, as some terrestrial photovoltaic systems have been producing energy now for 35 years. There are no moving parts and the cells are encapsulated and framed in aluminum.

We are happy to discuss a system with you over the phone and can give you a good idea of cost. There is a fee, depending on the job location and system size, to proceed with design. Design includes a site analysis, a turnkey quote, scope of work, a one-line electrical diagram, specifications and a site or roof layout drawing as well as some feedback on the efficiency of your electrical system. The design fee counts towards the total quote when you install the job.

The State of Tennessee has a grant program for businesses that is quite attractive. It must be a for-profit business, can't be home based, and must have been in business for three years or more.

I hope this general information answers some of your questions. The web site PV Watts at http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/codes_algs/PVWATTS/version1/US/Tennessee/Nashville.html has information as well. Please contact us directly for clarification or any further information.

If you would like to see more support for residential solar systems, please contact your federal representative or senator and tell them you support an extension tax of credits to those choosing to generate their own renewable, non-polluting energy. The traditional 1 or 2 year extension leaves an air of uncertainty in the marketplace and inhibits expansion. SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Association) proposes to extend the credit to the year 2016, which provides stability in the marketplace for a manageable expansion.