Photovoltaic - mixed rewards but still worthwhile

The sun shines brightly on solar system growth as Photo Voltaic (PV) panels seem to be turning up everywhere the past year or two. With no longer a scintilla of doubt, solar and other renewable energy sources are critical to managing world demand on fossil fuels, and the impact such fuels wreak on the delicate environmental balance of this world we all share. Like anything else, there are pitfalls and learning curves with solar technology as it evolves with such rapid deployments. This paper will explore some of these and other pitfalls and offer potential solutions for them. For at least one of the pitfalls, there may be code issues involved as a number of US electrical fires have occurred in the dc wiring between the solar array and the inverter. Such fires may leave fire department responders in a quandary as regards a tactical response to the fire. Should there be an external dc power disconnect between the PV panels and the inverter? Another safety issue to be covered is the fact that in some states, electrical utilities are placing individual panels and micro-inverters in the communications space on joint-use poles. Strictly speaking this isn´t a violation of codes. As a practical matter, however, if there are distribution terminals for telephone or cable television providers on that pole, the presence of a solar panel and inverter in that space imposes physical and electrical hazards to the technicians who must service them. Should the codes be revisited? This author placed an 8KW PV system on his residence last year and so part of the paper will be a tally of the pitfalls, resolutions and overall electrical and financial performance seen to date.