There are many manufacturers who sell self-construction equipment - these include the complete kit for a photovoltaic system and then have to be installed on the roof itself. In general, they are cheaper, because you save, among other things, the complete salary of the solar engineers.

However, you can not get by completely without professional help - usually at least one experienced electrician has to take over the connection to the public power grid. It is advisable to buy a self-construction system, but only if you are very skilled craftsmanship and also bring a lot of electrical know-how, because all cables must be properly installed and connected.

The term solar system is an umbrella term for systems that convert solar energy into another form of energy, such as heat or electricity. There are three types of solar systems: solar thermal, photovoltaic and thermal solar power.

Incorrectly, the word solar system is often called synonymous with photovoltaic system; correct, however, is the synonym photovoltaic system.

No, your photovoltaic system is not automatically covered by your homeowners insurance. Although you can inform your insurance company about the installation and - along with an increase in the contribution - you can also insure it against damage caused by fire, hail, storm, or theft via the homeowners insurance, but this is usually not worth it.

More sensible and cheaper is usually a special photovoltaic insurance, which is also liable for design, material and execution errors and also insures a possible loss of use.

If your solar PV system is oriented to the south, it can optimally capture solar energy and provide the optimum in yields.

But even roofs that are oriented to the southeast, southwest, or even east-west can achieve a high yield. With a 30% deviation to the east or west, the yield is reduced by just 5 percent.

The age of the roof is not as crucial as the condition and stability of the roof. However, it should always be considered that the renovation of a roof with solar system is usually not possible, that is, the solar system would have to be dismantled before and later reassembled. This could get expensive!

Therefore, avoid installing a solar system on an already ailing roof. The cost-effective approach is to first rehabilitate the roof and then to install a solar system - rehabilitation and purchase of a photovoltaic system at the same time, you can easily decide for an in-roof system, which is mounted directly on the roof.

The solar cells of a photovoltaic system can last up to 30 or 40 years, but usually the inverter must be replaced after about ten years.

A photovoltaic system has a payback period of 5 to 7 years, depending on size and yield. A professional solar supplier can calculate after how many years the system will make a profit, based on your plant, your location, the orientation of the roof, the irradiation values on site, etc.

Of course, solar PV systems can also be installed on old buildings. However, have an expert check the quality of your roof beforehand. Does the old roof withstand the weight of the solar PV system? Are the roof tiles still so good that the roof does not have to be renovated in the next few years? A solar engineer will tell you if your roof meets the requirements for a solar system.

With approximately 300 to 340 days of sunshine, Cyprus is ideal for the utilisation of a solar PV system. However, you should always have the individual requirements of your house checked, because the orientation of the roof, the angle of inclination and shady trees and neighboring houses have an impact on the profitability of the system.

A photovoltaic system works with solar modules on the roof, which in turn consist of many solar cells. The solar cells are very thin slices that are made of silicon. They capture solar energy and convert it into electrical energy. Since the solar cells only produce direct current, it must then be converted into alternating current by means of an inverter.

A 10 x 10 cm solar cell produces approximately 1.2 watts of power with optimal solar radiation. Since the yields of a single small solar cell are so low, one usually calculates the performance of a solar module, that is, several solar cells connected in series.

An ordinary solar module the size of a square meter achieves a power of about 120 watts in a bright blue sky. However, there are already significantly more innovative solar modules that can achieve a maximum output of up to 300 watts under optimal conditions.

Yes, a photovoltaic system also works with diffuse solar radiation, that is, even if the sun is obscured by clouds or the light is reflected. Of course, the yield in direct sunlight is much higher, but also the indirect solar radiation constitutes part of the yield.

The solar technology is constantly evolving and leaves much room for further technologies and innovations. Nevertheless, it is already very reliable and safe today and has clearly proven itself in recent decades. The modern photovoltaic systems now have a lifespan of up to 40 years.

In a net-metering photovoltaic system, the system is connected to the local power grid, so that the excess solar power can be fed in. Since the electricity generated in the solar cells is DC, it must first be converted to AC using an inverter. This way the complete solar power can be used and will not be lost even if you do not need it.

Put simply, a photovoltaic system generates electricity by using solar energy. This is done via solar cells, which are interconnected to form so-called solar modules.

As a rule, the solar modules are located on the roof, where they can capture as much solar radiation as possible. The solar cells convert the solar energy into direct current. This then enters an inverter, which converts the direct current into alternating current. You can then either the generated alternating current for the operation of your electrical appliances or feed the excess into the public grid via a feed-in meter which gets credited to you

In a net-metering photovoltaic system, generated electricity flows through the household and covers any energy requirements i.e. lights, fridge etc.. Any excess energy is then fed into the grid where the bi-directional EAC meter adds the electricity to your credit. If the energy demands are higher than the electricity generated by the PV system, power is drawn from the grid. You will only pay the net difference between power drawn and power fed into the grid. If the power fed into the grid is higher that the power drawn, the excess is rolled over to the next EAC bill.

A house is suitable for a photovoltaic system, if sufficient sunlight falls on the roof. Optimal is a southern orientation of the roof, a tilt angle of 30 � and as many hours of sunlight with direct sunlight..

However, it is important that your roof has sufficient roof space for the system and that it is not permanently shaded by neighboring houses, tall trees, chimneys, antennas, etc.

Another point is the statics of your roof. This should be checked in advance, because a photovoltaic system brings a fair amount of weight. Incidentally, the type of roof is not decisive - you can install a solar PV system both on a flat roof or on a pitched roof. It is best to make an appointment with a solar provider, as they would be able to advise whether your house is suitable for a PV system

KWp is the abbreviation for kilowatt peak. This describes the peak performance that a photovoltaic system can achieve under standard conditions.

As a rule, photovoltaic systems are weatherproof. Nevertheless, it can happen that large hailstones or a lightning strike damage the solar modules. You should therefore check your system for any damage after every major storm.

In order to protect against damage caused by lightning, hail, snow, wind or water, it is advisable to take out a photovoltaic insurance, which is liable in case of damage.

Maintaining your photovoltaic system on a regular basis will not only extend your life, it will also increase your yields. The solar modules are exposed to daily weather conditions and should therefore be regularly freed of leaves, dust, etc., as these can reduce the direct sunlight.

The technology, such as the inverter and the electrical installation, as well as the stability of the mounting system should be checked regularly. Overall, however, photovoltaic systems are very low maintenance. At an average, yearly maintenance costs come to about 200 Euro.

Usually it is worthwhile to seek a solar engineer or solar suppliers with this task.

They would calculate for you the ideal size for your photovoltaic system based on your power consumption, your location and your available roof area, and will present you with different models and then takes over planning and installation.

The best prerequisite for a long service life of your photovoltaic system is a regular maintenance and technical inspection of the system.

In addition, you should clean your system at least once every 6 months, since soiling can reduce the yield.

The inverter in the photovoltaic system ensures that the direct current, which is generated in the solar cells by the solar energy, is converted into alternating current. Modern inverters today are so efficient that direct current is converted into alternating current with almost no energy loss.