Even though solar power systems have been available for decades they have not gained widespread adoption until fairly recently. The reasons for this increase in solar power systems are many, and are driven by both improvements to the systems themselves as well as other political and economical factors that make them less expensive to implement.

With several recent breakthroughs in technology, and improvements in manufacturing techniques, modern solar panels are more efficient and durable than ever before. Modern systems can generate quite a bit more power in a given day with less solar panels than older systems. Some of these newer solar panels are reaching efficiencies of 15% or greater and this is double what it was a few short years ago. This means that the average homeowner will need less of these solar panels on their roof to generate the power they need for their home. By using fewer panels the installation costs will be lower and the homeowner will have to use a smaller amount of their roof for the system. This is great news for smaller homes and now enables them to take advantage of this alternative energy technology.

Another recent innovation in some of these newer solar panels is the addition of an internal micro-inverter. In a typical solar power system the solar panels generate a DC current when stuck by sunlight. This DC current then has to be routed to a device called an inverter to be converted to AC current for use in the home. This device is usually located in the basement of the home near the electrical panel. Because of the long length of wires needed to connect the solar panels to the inverter there is a portion of the current that is lost on its trip from the solar panels to the inverter. By including a smaller micro-inverter inside the solar panel itself, this loss is minimized and the solar panel can do its own DC to AC conversion to supply the home directly. This also makes expanding a newer solar power system easier since the homeowner can start with a small system and then simply connect any additional solar panels they purchase for their home to the existing panels for expansion. By using these newer panels, a homeowner can start small and expand their system as their budget allows.

In addition to the improvements to the technology, there are other reasons that make this the perfect time to invest in a solar power system. Because of the interest in alternative energy many federal and local programs have been created to provide rebates and other incentives directly to homeowners who take advantage of this technology. Some of these programs are outright grants that can be used to lower the cost of installing a solar power system on your home. Other programs provide for low-cost loans that can be used to finance a solar power system so you can start enjoying the free power it provides. This combination of improvements to the technology as well as financial incentive for their deployment makes this the perfect time to invest in a solar power system for your home.