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A photovoltaic system converts solar energy into electrical energy
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A photovoltaic module is a device capable of converting solar energy into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect: solar radiation is capable of freeing electrons from semiconductor materials such as silicon, thereby charging them electrically.
In this way, photovoltaic panels produce electrical energy.
The electric current produced then passes to an inverter, a device that transforms the AC current. After passing through the metal contacts, the current enters the electricity network (if the system is connected to the public network) or is stored in special batteries (if the system is ‘an island’ that is disconnected from the public network). In the case of systems connected to the network, the following methods of energy exchange are anticipated:
Net metering
Net metering is a mechanism that allows electrical energy that is not immediately consumed to be placed into the electricity grid to be later taken from the network to satisfy personal consumption requirements.
The following types of photovoltaic systems are suitable:
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- Those supplied by renewable sources of a power of up to 20 kW;
- Those supplied by renewable sources up to a power of 200 kW (if they began functioning after December 2007);
- Those of high-performance co-generation up to a power of 200kW
The energy thus produced is put into the network and its value calculated; this will compensate for the value of energy taken from the network for the user’s requirements. GSE (Gestore dei Servizi Elettrici) provides a new metering bill on the basis of calculations that take into account the amount of energy exchanged and the value that has entered and been taken from the system.
Energy Assignment
The energy produced is put into the network at a pre-established tariff. The energy assignment regime is suitable for large-scale systems that produce a larger quantity of energy than is required by the producer
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