Instead of stringing wire, many utilities are "connecting with the sun" to provide power to remote, small or seasonal electric loads--benefitting themselves and their customers.
Photovoltaic (PV) energy--electricity made directly from sunlight by solar (photovoltaic) cells--can be cost effective compared to building and maintaining power lines, especially when the load is small, hard to get to, or seasonal.
PV systems turn sunlight directly into electricity using silicon-coated solar cells. When photons from the sun hit a PV cell, electrons are freed. These electrons then can move through a wire to an appliance or battery storage.
Southern and western states are especially active in PV efforts, largely due to remote customer locations and obstacles like trees and rugged terrain that drive up the cost of extending and maintaining power lines. |
