• Sunlight is an inexhaustible source of renewable energy. Capturing and transforming it into solar electricity does not produce CO2 or any other greenhouse gas.
• The primary energy source—sunlight—has no cost. Solar electric systems also enjoy generous renewable energy incentives.
• Technological advances, particularly in the development of newer, more efficient, and less expensive semiconductor material, continue to drive down the costs of solar electric systems comparable to other electricity sources.

Solar electric systems are very flexible—at North Wind, we will work closely with you to design a system that will generate your preferred amount of electricity while also addressing your aesthetic and budget considerations.

Mounting Options

Solar electric systems consist of solar panels that must be mounted in some way to ensure maximum exposure to sunlight. There are three mounting options:

1. Roof-mounted. Roof-mounted solar electric systems consist of solar panels affixed to one or more solar racks, each of which are mounted on a roof. Roof-mounted systems can be deployed on almost any type of roof, which makes them popular for existing homes and buildings.
2. Ground-mounted. Ground-mounted solar electric systems consist of solar panels affixed to one or more solar racks, each of which are mounted on the ground. Ground mounted systems can be placed anywhere, provided they can be conveniently connected to the home, building, or a device that can use the electricity. They can also be combined with tracking systems to track the path of the sun, thereby increasing their productivity.
3. Building-integrated. Building-integrated solar systems are systems that are built right into buildings, e.g., in the roof or walls. The main advantage of this system is that the final roofing or wall material blends into the lines of the building. Building-integrated systems are considerably more expensive, however.

Note that there are a variety of mounting solutions for each of these options. As part of our service, we will help you identify the option that is the most appropriate for your needs and goals.

Grid Connectivity Options

When designing a solar electric system, you have to decide how, if at all, your system will connect to the electricity grid maintained by your utility. There are three grid connectivity options:

1. Grid-tied. Grid-tied solar electric systems generate electricity on their own but are also connected directly to the utility grid. This is a simple, practical configuration because it doesn’t require batteries for nighttime power needs; instead, grid-tied systems draw from the grid when sunlight isn’t available.
2. Grid-tied with battery backup. Grid-tied solar electric systems with battery backups are similar to grid-tied solar electric systems with one key advantage: during grid power outages, the battery bank provides power to the system, allowing it to continue to function.
3. Off-grid systems. Off-grid systems are not connected to the utility grid. The system stands alone or is combined with a wind turbine or generator to provide electricity to a home or business.

For some sites, North Wind recommends that you conduct a detailed site assessment as a first step in the design and installation of a solar electric system.

A site assessment provides information about a site’s solar potential, energy efficiency recommendations, ball park system cost, and a guideline for completing the process of designing and installing a system.

Maintenance requirements and costs vary depending on the type of solar electric system. For example, grid-tied non-tracking systems have no moving parts and are virtually maintenance free (except cleaning and possible snow removal). In contrast, systems that include tracking units or batteries require maintenance.

North Wind offers a 10-year warranty on workmanship for all grid-tied systems. This warranty stands beside manufacturer’s warranties on parts, which typically include 20-year warranties on solar panels.

We will also service and repair systems installed by other installers as well as provide a battery maintenance service for grid-tied and off-grid systems that use a batter backup.