Invest in solar energyRenewable technologies for a better future

www.lokavis.de

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Content2 Why solar energy?

4 A good investment

6 The PV installation

8 Solar cells

10 Our products

12 Facts

14 Output and return

16 Alignment

18 Location

20 10 steps

22 FAQ

24 Notes

The expertsfor photovoltaics!

Who we arelokavis energietechnik GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 2009 as a coop-

eration of Kelmendi Haustechnik GmbH and LK Solartechnik GmbH in

Eggenfelden, Germany. Thereby, the two companies - each one with over

10 years of business experience – could bundle their know-how, generate

synergies and realise large-scale projects, benefiting from a strong market

position. This focus is reflected in our expansion and activities on the

Italian market with the formation of lokavis energy S.r.l. in Campi Salen-

tina in Apulia. Our aim for the future is an alliance of companies all over

Europe that facilitates the implementation of international projects and

opens up new potentials in an attractive photovoltaics market.

Our serviceWe accomplish every kind of photovoltaic system for you - from small-

scale rooftop installations to huge solar parks.

lokavis is a full-service-provider! We are a “one-stop shop“ for solar

power systems: Consultancy, planning, funding, project management,

installation and service – all over Europe. These webpages will give you

an overview of the most important aspects of photovoltaics. Apart from

technical information, feasibility and profitability studies, you will learn

how a solar system is implemented and what you have to consider. If you

have questions, we are more than glad to help you! Simply give us a call

and make an appointment for an initial consultation without any com-

mitment.

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Why solar energy?

Key industrySolar energy is one of the key industries to reduce

greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4)

or nitrous oxide (N2O), and thus, global warming. CO2

emissions today are more than twelve times as high as

back in 1900, and we burn ever more amounts of hard

coal, oil and gas. Global CO2 emissions have increased by

one third through fossil fuels only since 2000! Negative

consequences of this development, i.e. the disruption of

the natural atmospheric balance, can be observed in the

news and, of course, the nature every day. Global

warming effects everyone of us – its impacts are more

than visible!

Sheer endless potentialThe development of renewable energies such as hydro

power, bio energy, wind power and solar energy is inevi-

table in order to gain control of global warming and the

2 degree target until 2050. Solar energy has huge poten-

tials, and only a fractional part of it is being used:

The power of the sun is enormous. Each year, it radiates

15,000 times more energy onto the earth than what can

actually be used by the entire world population. In terms

of figures, a solar park of 700x 700 km in size and only

10% efficiency would be sufficient to meet the world’s

energy demands and to manage our worldwide envi-

ronmental and energy problems. In Germany, the sun

releases 80 times more energy than what is consumed.

On average, about 1,000 kWh of solar energy per square

metre impinge upon the earth every year. This

corresponds to the energy of 100 litres of heating oil.

Rapid growthThe use of solar power to produce electricity has in-

creased considerably during the last couple of years: Ger-

many is a pioneer in the usage of solar energy, followed

by Spain, Japan and the US. Within only 10 years, the

capacity of all PV installations in Germany has increased

by more than one hundred times. The threshold of 10

gigawatt (GW) was exceeded in 2010; over two million

solar power installations are now operating. Solar power

plants in Germany achieved 9.7 GW in 2009 and gener-

ated over 6.6 terrawatt hours (TWh) of electrical energy.

Their share in the energy mix in Germany is at 1.5 %,

with strong upward tendency. The share is supposed to

be at 7% in 2020.

The future of solar energy?According to a study by the European Photovoltaic

Industry Association (EPIA), the capacity of PV instal-

lations worldwide will amount to 912 GW in 2030.

The installations will then produce 1,200 TWh of solar

energy. The amount of CO2 emissions reduced in this way

accounts for 1 billion tons annually. This is equivalent

to the emissions of more than 300 coal power stations.

Solar power is the energy of the future!

Invest today in afuture technology &

reduce your personal CO2-footprint

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A good investment!

PhotovoltaicsPhotovoltaic is a sophisticated, reliable and future-proof

technique, which requires low maintenance. Investments

in solar power installations under current conditions,

regulated under the Renewable Energy Act (Erneuerbare-

Energien Gesetz, EEG), are especially profitable in Germa-

ny. Decrease your tax burden and take advantage of the

increased feed-in tariffs. A solar power installation, with

only 20% decrease in efficiency after an operating period

of 20 years, can generate electricity nearly without any

limitations. And after the increased feed-in tariffs have

expired, you can still use the produced electricity your-

self and thus get independent from rising energy costs.

20 m2 Only 20m2 are enough and a solar power installation pays

off! An installation delivers 12 kWh electrical energy on

a sunny summer day. Depending on the location of the

installation, the solar output comes to 1.400 – 3,000 kWh

of electricity a year. On average, this releases the

environment from about 660g CO2 per kWH.

Your carbon footprintBy opting for a solar power installation, you improve

your carbon footprint by reducing tons of ecologically

harmful CO2 year by year. In addition, you actively con-

tribute to the promotion of sustainable energy solutions

and to the preservation of our planet!

Advanced and aestheticProducing electricity without polluting the environ-

ment: Safe, silent & sustainable. Photovoltaic technology

is one of the most elegant ways to produce electricity.

Solar panels also offer architectural scope for design. It

can change and upgrade the appearance of your house

considerably. The installation symbolizes modernity and

willingness to take responsibility towards nature!

20 m2

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contacts on the upper side and the bottom of the lay-

ers are connected (e.g. through accurately cross-linked

soldering threads), electrons (i.e. direct current) can flow

and power is generated: The solar cell has become an

energy producer.

InvertersAn inverter effectively changes direct current produced

by PV-installations into alternating current (230 volt, 50

hertz), which is used in the public power grid. Subse-

quently, the solar electricity is fed into the public grid.

In addition, the inverter controls the power supply, for

example to separate the PV-installation from the grid in

case of a power cut. Furthermore, it records data related

to the power generation, so that defects can be recog-

nized and resolved more quickly. The number of inverters

needed depends on the size of the PV system.

Feed-in to the electricity gridThe electricity meter measures how much solar power is

fed into the public power grid. The provider will be paid

by the energy distributor for the electricity delivered, but

the provider will normally continue to draw electricity for

private usage from the public grid. The investment into

a PV-installation will amortise after 12 to 16 years, when

the difference from payments received by the energy

distributor and the costs for electricity consumed will

balance out.

DurabilitySince a PV-system consists of no movable, but only fixed

parts, it has a life expectancy of 20 to 30 years and

longer. Solar cells do not wear off quickly. Thus, manufac-

turers guarantee high durability and efficiency for their

panels (e.g. a minimum of 80 % of their nominal

capacity after 20 years). For inverters, a guarantee period

of 5 to 10 years is common today. They usually have to

be replaced once during the life span of the PV-installa-

tion.

How do solar panels work?Solar panels are fixed on a substructure and are electri-

cally interconnected. The energy produced by the panels

is collected by a cable system and transmitted to invert-

ers, which change direct current (DC) in alternating cur-

rent (AC). Finally, the electricity is fed into the

public grid over an electricity meter, which records the

amount of electricity generated. The energy provider will

pay the supplier for the amount provided. Owners of in-

dependent solar power plants do not feed electricity into

the public grid, but accumulate the energy locally or

consume it themselves, for example to supply so-called

’island grids’ with remote villages or infirmaries with

electricity. If required, these low maintenance ’island

systems’ can be made mobile.

Solar cells and solar panelsThe main component of photovoltaic installations (also

PV installations or solar power plants) are mostly silicon

solar cells. The solar cells are interconnected to solar

modules, which are wind- and weather-resistant. The

front is usually covered with a glass pane; a foil on the

back side protects from weather exposure. Special panels

with solar cells in between two glass panes are used for

facades of buildings. A solar panel consists of 36 or 72

directly interconnected solar cells and creates a cur-

rent of 12 or 24 Volt. Panels are available with different

output from some few up to 300 Watt. The most common

panels deliver 100 to 150 Watt. All panels of leading

manufacturers are produced according to international

standards and are subject to continuous quality checks.

Solar panels are lightweight (about 10 to 15 kg/

m2) and are offered in sizes up to 3 m2.

Fabrication & functionality Solar cells consist of various semi-conductor materials,

such as silicon or cadmium tellurid (CdTe). Semi-conduc-

tors are materials which develop electrical conductivity

through light or heat supply and an isolation effect with

deep temperatures. For the production of solar cells the

semi-conductor material is “contaminated“. This means

it is deliberately polluted with chemical elements (e.g.

boron, phosphorus) to create an “n” layer (n = negative)

with an excess of electrons and a “p” layer (p = positive)

underneath with an electron shortage. Because of the

concentration difference, electrons flow from the n-field

to the p-field such that an electrical field forms inside

this semiconductor structure. Finally, when the electrical

The PV installation

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PV installation1 Solar panels2 Inverter3 Power input4 Electrical meter5 Public grid

5

negative electrode

p-layer silicon

n-layer silicon

border layer

positive electrode

–

+

Solar cell layout

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Solar cells

Monocrystallinecells

Mono-Sirigidcut silicon cells

85 % (with Poly-Si)

15 %dark blue/anthracite

Polycrystallinecells

Poly-Si or Multi-Sirigidcut silicon cells

85 % (with Mono-Si)

14 %Blue

Amorphous Cells

Amorph-Siflexible or rigidEvaporation of silicon, simple procedure15 %6 %black/brown/gold

Cell type

AbbreviationMaterialProduction

Market shareEfficienceColor

Monocrystalline

Solar panels are the ones with the high-

est level of efficiency (up to 17.5%, in

laboratories already up to 25%) and a

life expectancy of at least 30 years. As

their name indicates, the cells consist of

one single crystal. Their high efficiency

is due to the exact one-directional align-

ment of the crystal structure. However,

this results in a big effort during the

manufacturing process and in higher

prices for the panels. Crystalline solar

panels (mono- and polycrystalline pan-

els) have a market share of about 85%

compared to amorphous panels.

Monocrystalline

or multicrystalline panels are charac-

terised by their low-cost manufacturing

process. Silicon, free from semi-conduc-

tors, is melted in a reduced pressure at-

mosphere and poured into moulds, where

it sets. The multicrystalline blocks are

then processed to columns with a square

cell base. These are then separated into

silicion-slices with a thickness of 0.45

mm before they are finally cleaned.

This intermediate product is also called

“wafer“. The level of efficiency is only

marginally smaller than with monocrys-

talline cells.

Amorphous cells

Highly purified silicon films are segre-

gated or vacuum-metallized and then

provided with electric contacts. An amor-

phous photovoltaic cell can be produced

with less energy and material and it is

also more environmentally friendly and

cheaper in the long run to produce

than crystalline cells. Further advan-

tages: It is less sensitive to temperatures

and, due to its different layers, it can be

used in a broad light spectrum. Amor-

phous cells deliver energy also when

light is weak or diffused. Therefore, they

can be used if the existing roof pitch or

orientation is unfavourable.

SiliconOver 95% of solar cells produced around the world consist of the semi-conductor material silicon (Si). Silicon has

two big advantages: It is the second most common element in the Earth’s crust, thus, abundant, and its processing is

environmentally compatible. Conventional solar power panels have silicon as their active layer in different forms of

cristallization. We distinguish between monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous panels. The price decreases in

this order, as well as the life expectancy and efficiency.

Specs for different types of solar panels

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Sunrise SolartechSunrise Solartech is an international manufacturer of

monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar panels with

headquarters in the Chinese industry quarter Changzhou

close to Shanghai and branches is Germany, Turkey and

Japan. The company produces solar modules ranging

from 75 W to 300 W in power output, built to general

specifications for use in a wide range of residential,

commercial, industrial and other solar power generation

systems. The solar panels are sealed, weatherproof and

able to withstand high levels of ultraviolet radiation and

moisture.

Mitsubishi ElectricMitsubishi Electric, a global leader in the solar industry,

is proud to be the first photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer to

use 100 % lead-free solder in their solar modules. While

traditional lead-solder modules use about 860 grams of

lead, Mitsubishi Electric modules have 0 grams of lead. Its

panels utilize polysilicon technology and are known for

their high reliability, high-efficiency, and low environ-

mental impact. Mitsubishi Electric’s photovoltaic modules

are engineered for extended use in environments with

extreme temperatures and harsh weather conditions. All

of the company’s modules feature a 25-year limited war-

ranty on power output and are designed to deliver you

trouble-free electricity for years to come.

Kioto Clear Energy KIOTO solar panels are the best choice when high quality

and reliability are required. The Austrian-based manufac-

turer for the solar industry produces outstanding quality

and innovative constructions. Strict quality requirements

apply to the choice of all materials and components

needed for the manufacturing of KIOTO solar panels. Only

the best materials and components available on the world

market are processed. Not the price is the decisive fac-

tor, but the performance of the products. High demands

linked with high-quality production in Europe make

KIOTO one of the most reliable suppliers in the industry.

SiG Solar > SunEarth®Top quality on the highest level applies to the entire

manufacturing process and all products of SunEarth.

Whether it is monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar

panels – we give guarantees, because we are sure about

the high performance and quality of our PV-panels from

SunEarth®. However, we do not solely rely on math-

ematical probability calculations and laboratory results.

Experience from quality tests with SunEarth® PV-panels

in the Tibetan mountains shows that the panels pass

maximum practical test conditions under extreme

weather conditions. With impressive results: Even after

23 years, SunEarth® PV- panels still deliver over 90% of

their initial output. This is unique worldwide!

DIEHL AkoDiehl Ako is a German company with headquarters in

Wangen (Bavaria), which established its reputation with

branches also in China, Italy, England, Mexico, Poland

and the US. In cooperation with SiG Solar, the company

produces and sells over 2 million frequency inverters

annually, making it a market leader in the industry. The

company’s platinum inverter, for instance, works with a

unique, so-called RACETM principle, which has been de-

veloped by DIEHL AKO and achieves highest efficiencies

through quick and effective MPP-tracking.

Power-OneThe American company Power-One offers high-efficiency

green power solutions and provides one of the industry’s

broadest ranges of solar installation components. Ad-

vanced topologies deliver industry leading efficiencies

that save energy, increase power densities, and improve

elevated ambient temperature performance. Renewable

energy industry magazine, Photon International, has

recently graded Power-One’s Aurora® three-phase 12.5kW

power inverter in the highest category of A+ when under

the highest irradiation conditions. This independent

review also concluded that when viewed under usual

laboratory test conditions the performance of this power

inverter delivered the best performance Photon has ever

seen.

Everything on photovoltaicsOur product range includes all components that are need-

ed for the installation of photovoltaic systems. We offer a

broad choice of solar panels, inverters, sub constructions,

foundations, tracking systems, monitoring technique,

wiring and supplies of renowned manufacturers from all

over the world. Our products are in all performance and

price segments, so that we can always make the right

offer for every individual project.

For more information on our products and current prices

please refer to our spec sheets or visit our website

www.lokavis.de

Our products

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6.2 TWhproduced electric energy

by solar installations in Germany 2009

6.1 TWh produced thermal energy

by solar installations in Germany 2009

9.8 GW installed power potential

of PV installations in Germany 2009

3 GWgrowth of newly installed photovoltaic output in

in Germany 2009

2,000,000 homes, businesses,

farms or solar parks inGermany use the energy of the sun for producing electricity or heat.

71% of all Germans plan to invest in renewable energy technologies. No other source of energy has

more acceptance!

110 million tons saved CO2 through renewable energies in

Germany 2008, the equivalent of the CO2 emissions

of the federal states of Saxony and Lower Saxony together!

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Output and return

How much electricity does my PVinstallation produce?The amount of energy that can be produced by a PV

installation depends on four factors:

1 » Area of the installation

2 » Capacity of the installation

3 » Alignment of the solar panels

4 » Geographical location

To make a statement on the output of a solar panel, we

take the maximum nominal power as a starting point for

the calculations. This is the maximum capacity of a solar

panel with a certain solar radiation and under deter-

mined conditions. The output is expressed in Watt-Peak

(Wp). Conventional solar panels have a maximum nomi-

nal power of 140 to 230 Wp.

ExampleIn Germany, a 20m2 grid-connected solar installation

delivers an average of 2,000 kWh annually, depend-

ing on the capacity of the panels. Thus, the usage of a

grid-connected solar installation with an area of 20m2

corresponds to about 50% of the average household elec-

tricity consumption. An independent, non-connected,

solar installation of the same size delivers about 500 kWh

per year, also depending on the panel capacity. These

different outputs occur because independent installations

use rechargeable or solar batteries. When the batteries

are fully charged, the solar panels are disconnected and

sunlight is no longer converted into electricity.

Your returnWhich return your installation achieves depends on many

factors. Apart from the size and kind of PV installation,

expenses for the assembly and wiring as well as the type

of financing have to be considered as well. On average,

the total costs for a completely fitted standard PV

installation are at € 3,000 per kWp capacity (July 2010).

The return on investment in solar energy is about 5 to

9 %. A 6% return is about twice as high as the average

return of Federal bonds. In addition, one can assume a

life span of solar panels of up to 40 years. However,

the calculation of return refers to 20 years only. Thus,

apart from the return, you will have electricity free of

charge for further 10 to 20 years.

The German Renewable Energy ActThe underlying conditions for payments for electricity

form renewable energies are regulated under the German

Renewable Energy Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz,

EEG) since 2000. The EEG aims at an increase of the share

of renewable energies in the entire power supply of at

least 20% in 2020. It obliges the network operators to

connect all installations generating power from renew-

able energies to the public power grid. Furthermore, the

operators are obliged to provide feed-in tariffs for the

electricity produced, which differ according to the size

and the site of the installation. By producing energy

with a solar system, you will reacquire your investment

costs through the tariffs received over the life expectan-

cy of your installation. The feed-in tariffs are guaranteed

to 20 years. After the decision of the Federal Council of

Germany from 09.07.2010 on the adjustment of

feed-in tariffs, there is now more security for planning

and new chances for the solar industry.

Private consumptionSince 2009, there is the option for funded private con-

sumption of solar energy in the Renewable Energy Act.

Accordingly, installation owners also receive a compensa-

tion (reduced in comparison to the feed-in tariff) if they

use their solar energy themselves or if it is used by third

parties in close spatial proximity to the installation.

Besides the private application of solar installations,

there is now also the opportunity for their industrial

implementation, because the government increased the

maximum panel capacity

Operating costsThe sunny times start after the photovoltaic installation

has been mounted onto the roof and connected to the

power grid. The system is basically maintenance-free. It

is recommended to regularly control the installation in

order to spot eventual defects in time (e.g. shades on

panels or cable damages by marten) and to prevent

temporary failure. Generally, the self- purification of the

panels through rain is enough. To get the most out of

your solar panels, you can regularly clean the panels and

optimize their yield. Surveillance systems, which analyse

operating data, constantly give an overview of the yield.

The integration of a control meter for produced electric

energy is highly recommended for medium to big size

installations.

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Alignment

Optimized resultsThe alignment of a solar panel depends, amongst other things, on the an-

gle of inclination and the alignment of the panel. The angle of inclination

suitable for the solar installation in turn depends on its usage and loca-

tion. In Germany, the maximum annual output is achieved when

solar panels are oriented in an angle of 30 degrees directly towards the

south. The panels of an independent installation, which, for instance, has

the highest energy requirements in winter, should be oriented in an angle

of 70 degrees towards the south, because the sun is lower in winter. There

are also installations which automatically follow the course of the sun and

guarantee for a constant and optimal alignment and inclination of the PV

modules. These are ideal for open spaces. In this way, two-axle systems

generate a surplus of up to 27% in output.

Solar insolation diagramThe insolation diagram reveals the average annual solar radiation at differ-

ent fixed angles of inclination, expressed in percentage of the maximum

insolation. With an orientation between south-east and south-west, you

can always find a roof slope where the annual solar radiation is about 95%

of the maximum insolation. If the roof shows to the east or west, a slope

of 20 degrees can still achieve 80% to 85% of the a maximum value.

OpacityPV installations need the maximum amount of light in order to make the

most of their capacities. Therefore, adjacent buildings, chimneys or trees

should not shade the installation. When only a small part of a panel is cov-

ered, it can decrease the output of the whole PV installation substantially.

Thus, also small shadows, for instance through branches of trees, should

be avoided. If you have a building with a flat roof, you should make sure

that the solar panels positioned in a row do not shade the panels behind.

Enough space between each single panel can prevent this problem.

80°

90°

70°

60°

50°

40°

30°

90°

80°

70°

60°

50°

30°

40° southeastsouthwest

west east

20° 20°10° 10°0°

south

90° 80° 70° 60° 50° 40° 90°80°70°60°50°40°30° 30°20° 20°10° 10°0°

roof angle

100%

Solar insolation diagram

for solar panels

Performance compared to optimal inclination

60 % 65 % 70 % 75 % 80 % 85 % 90 % 95 %

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Global irridation and estimatedgenerated power

optimally inclined solar panels

Sum of annual radiation in kW/m2

Yearly generated energy by a 1kWp system with a performance ratio of 0.75 kWh/kWp)

< 1.100 1.200 1.250 1.300 1.350 1.350 1.400 >

< 825 863 900 938 975 1.013 1.050 >

Source: European Communities, http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis

Geographical location

Sunshine in GermanySunshine duration is the actual duration of direct solar radiation (without

obstruction by clouds, smog etc.) in a specific area within a specific period of

time. It is measured every day and summarised for longer periods. Thereby,

the sunshine duration can be calculated as longtime average for many places.

It is measured with sunshine autographs or optoelectronic sensors. The total

annual sunshine duration in Germany is approximately 1,000 hours full of

sunshine. In other words, the average annual solar radiation in Germany

is about 1,050 kWh per m2. For comparison: The annual solar radiation in

Greenland is 750 kWh per m2, in Spain it is 1,500 and in Israel 2,000 kWh

per m2. The ratio used in terms of the development of solar installations in

Germany is 1,000 kWh per m2.

Regional distributionAreas at the North and East Sea coast as well as in Bavaria and Baden-Würt-

temberg regularly take the front places in the list with the most sunshine

hours in Germany. Areas in the middle of Germany mostly come in last,

because cloud fields frequently accumulate at the Central German Uplands

and limit direct solar radiation. On the map right next to the text, you can

find out how suitable your are is. But: Photovoltaics do not only work in

the South! Modern installations also pay off in northern latitudes. Not only

because summer days are especially long in the North, but also because the

panels are better cooled through more wind. The cooler the components, the

higher the panel capacity and thus, your yield!

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21101Consultation and planningSet up a consultation session with us, and we will talk

with you about all general conditions, explain the

technical details, funding possibilities and establish the

calculation of profitability for your project. On the basis

of your draft, we develop the ideal configuration for

maximum return and we make you a detailed offer.

2FundingWith the offer we have prepared, you make an applica-

tion for the funding of your PV installation with your

bank or our external financing department. We will be

glad to inform you about current funding programmes or

loans at reduced rates of interest.

3Award the contractAs soon as the loan is granted and you award the con-

tract to us, we will give you detailed planning data and

agree with you on the date of installation. We will also

inform you about the delivery times for the individual

components.

4InstallationThe installation of your solar panels – depending on the

size of your project – takes only a few days. We organise

the entire installation process for you, from the set-up of

the construction site to the takeover of your installation

by the power supply company. Once we are finished with

the installation, you will receive a documentation of the

entire process.

5Get your creditAfter successful installation and implementation, you

will receive our invoice on the construction of your PV

system. In order to obtain your credit, you have to send

a copy of the invoice to your bank or to our external

financing department. As experience shows, the

money will be available to you within only a few days.

6Benefit from tax advantagesUpon request, you receive an additional tax number from

the tax office. You need this number in order to get a

VAT refund for the taxes paid for your solar installation.

Alternatively, your tax advisor can deal with this issue

for you.

7InsuranceBe it storm, hail or fire – a solar installation is not

safe from destruction. For this reason, it is impor-

tant to sufficiently insure the installation against

damage. We can make you an offer adapted to

your individual needs.

8Service Even if your PV installation works without disrup-

tions and requires hardly any maintenance,

potential defects might be discovered too late or

not at all. Major output deficiency/loss of earn-

ings cannot be excluded entirely. Therefore, we

connect your installation with our servers over

a telephone line, which allows for a secure and

complete control of your installation. Thus, we can

react quickly in case of disturbances or suspicious

electricity values and prevent lower yield.

9MaintenanceWe also offer you comprehensive maintenance

services to prevent reduced yield and loss

of earnings.

10RelaxNow lean back and let the sun work for you!

10 steps towards a PV installation

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Miscellaneous

Does it pay off to generate electricity with a solar installation?Apart from ecological aspects, an investment in solar installations is also profitable from afinancial viewpoint due to today’s high feed-in tariffs.

Will I also have electricity in cloudy weather?Yes, a solar panel also works with diffused light, i.e. with sunlight that does not directly strike the earth, for example when it is cloudy. The electrical power output is the highest with full sunshine, but it is still high with white clouds.

Can solar panels be installed on all kinds of rooftops?Almost all kinds of rooftops are suitable for solar panels. There are also special constructions for corrugated iron roofs and sloped bitumen roofs.

Are solar panels designed to fit German weather condi-tions?Yes. If the panels are attached according to instructions, they can stand also extreme weather conditions, such as storms, hail, snow and extreme frost.

Do I need a licence for a solar installation?No, the nationwide rule is that no more municipal licences are necessary for the installation of solar power plants.

Which guarantees are there for solar panels?The guarantee for solar panels is 10 to 25 years on 80% of the capacity. The inverter has a guarantee of two to five years.

Will solar panels become even cheaper in the future?The demand for solar panels has increased considerably lately. According to experts from the solar industry, the prices will first slightly increase rather than drop. Furthermore, governmental fundings for new installations could also be reduced.

Operation and assembly

How much electricity do solar panels produce?An installation with 12 panels delivers about 1,860 kWh per year in Bavaria, which amounts to roughly 50% of the average household electricity consumption.

How much space per kWp do I need?Depending on the efficiency of the panels, you will need 8 to 12 m2 on a sloping roof. For flat roof installations and for thin-layer modules, about twice as much space is needed.

Are adjustments on my house or my electric system necessary?The solar panels can be installed without any changes of the construction on your roof tiles. On flat roofs, the panels are fitted on a ballasted mounting system, which stands loosely on the roof.

Where will the inverter be installed?To achieve the highest efficiency for the installation, the inverter should be fitted to the generator as closely as possible. A cool attic would be ideal. Heat is unfavourable to the inverter.

The inverter produces less power output than my solar generator. Why?The output of the solar generator depends on the solar radiation. However, since most of the output is generated at low performance, it is not necessary to push the instal-lation to the rarely achieved peak capacity. As a rule of thumb: The input power of the inverter should be at least80 to 90% of the generator’s peak capacity.

Connection to the public energy grid

How does the compensation work?A feed-in contract is made with the electricity distribu-tor, which contains the legal regulations, such as the compensation, the method of payment and the fees.

Which documents do I need for the connection to the public energy grid?Site plan, layout plan of the solar installation with nomi-nal data of the single components, explanation of the protection device with data on type, brand, wiring and capacity, declaration of conformity for the inverter, data on the resistance to short-circuiting of the switchingparts, request for the electricity meter and fabricator cer-tificate. All needed documents will be issued by lokavis energietechnik and handed over to you at the initial star-tup of your installation with all required test certificates.

How is the electricity fed into the public energy grid?The electricity meter system will be extended by a further meter. If there is still a free spot in the meter system, it can be used in consultation with the electricity distribu-tor. Otherwise, a further small meter box will be installed.

In case the electricity distributor disconnects its grid, how does the automatic separation from the public grid work?An automatic device is integrated in the inverter. Through the so-called ENS-system, the feed-in will be in-terrupted when the grid is disconnected. Further protec-tion devices are needed when the nominal capacity of the inverter is 30 kW or more.

Definitions

What does Watt-Peak (Wp) mean?Wp describes the peak capacity of a solar panel under standard test conditions (STC).

What are the standard test conditions?Standardised test conditions are used so that the capaci-ties of different solar panels can be compared to each other: Insolation 1,000 W per m2, temperature 25 degrees celsius and air mass (AM) 1.5 (air mass relates to the thickness of the atmosphere).

What does maximum power point (Mpp) mean?The Mpp (point of maximum output) indicates the volt-age, at which most electricity output is delivered under STC.

What does panel efficiency mean?The efficiency describes the relation of the delivered output to the insolated energy of a solar panel in terms of the panel area.

What does matching mean?Photovoltaic panels can only be produced with a produc-tion tolerance. Matching relates to the presorting of the panels according to their actual capacity. Through serial numbers and the allocation of capacities, we can achieve an exact distribution within the wiring system.Thereby, the total output of an installation can be increased. The matching process is not necessary with thin-layer modules.

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ImprintConcept & Design: K l au s O b e r m a i e r design · Bratfischwinkel 5 · 94032 Passau · Germany · www.klaus-obermaier.de

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