Solar 101

You'll love your solar system if you first learn the basics. Check out our articles and FAQs to dive deeper into solar.

The Basics of Solar

How an Enphase solar system powers your home

Microinverter Setup: Enphase - 1 microinverter per panel

  • DC to AC conversion on the roof (under each panel)
  • Panels operate independently, ideal for shading and no single-point of failure
  • Easy to expand system, not constricted by main inverter size
  • Can be pricier as there is one inverter per module
  • Key: Ideal for urban homes with multiple roof faces
solaredge solar system connected to inverter powering your home

String Inverter Setup: SolarEdge - main inverter with power optimizers

  • DC from all panels sent to main inverter
  • Power optimizers under each panel optimizes production and mitigates shading
  • Allows for higher DC/AC ratio
  • Can be a single-point of failure
  • Key: Ideal for homes that need over 27 panels going into an 100A mains.
solar panels that tie into inverter and send the electricity to the grid during the day and the home pulls electricity at night from the grid

Grid-Tied Solar System

  • Connected to the utility Grid - draws power at night
  • No batteries required – excess energy is automatically sold to the grid
  • Lower upfront cost – less components than a hybrid system
  • High efficiency – all solar power is used or exported to the grid
  • No backup during outages – shuts down for safety when grid is down
  • Key: Ideal for urban homes where grid access is reliable and no time-of-day charges.
solar panels tie into inverter, then to transfer switch and battery bank. image shows how a hybrid solar system works

Hybrid Solar System

  • Connects to the utility and to batteries
  • Energy Independence – can power home at night and operate during outages
  • Higher upfront cost – includes battery, transfer switch and extra electrical panels.
  • Smart energy management – prioritizes solar, then battery, then grid use.
  • Back up Functionality – critical loads stay powered during blackouts.
  • Key: Ideal for homes where grid is less reliable or that have time-of-day charges.

The Solar Club

The Solar Club in Alberta is a program for solar micro-generators that lets you switch between two electricity rates to maximize savings and reduce your payback period.

High (HI) Rate: $0.33/kWh for selling surplus power between spring and autumn.

Low (LO) Rate: $0.07 - 0.09/kWh for buying power in winter.

Extra perks:
Pre-solar rate for clients with signed solar contracts before installation + summer payouts every $200 credit buildup.

How Long Does it Take to go Solar?

1 minute
Send us your electricity bills & schedule a site visit with us
1 hour
We conduct the site visit & book a proposal walkthrough
2 days
We walk you through the proposal & answer any questions
1 minute
If you're happy with our quote, sign our Solar Agreement!
4 weeks
We reserve your components & gather necessary permits
1 week
We install and commission your system and book final inspections.
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Frequently asked questions

From design to maintenance and weather, we tackle a few commonly asked questions. If your question isn't here, please contact us!

How Do Solar Panels Work?
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Solar panels turn sunlight into direct current (DC) power through photovoltaic cells; when photons hit the panel, they free electrons to create energy, and your inverter converts that DC into AC power your home runs on. Microinverters do this conversion right on the roof beside each panel, so the power coming off your roof is already in AC.

What is the cost of a solar panel installation?
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Solar installation costs depend on system size, site conditions, and your home's consumption profile, with most Alberta homes landing around $2.5 –$3.0 per watt installed. Use our free calculator or request a custom quote to get accurate, all‑inclusive pricing for your home.

How long do solar panels last in Canada?
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Most solar panels coming into Canada are warranted for at least 25- years, and there is no reason why they shouldn't last longer.

Can Solar Panels Handle Calgary hail?
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Solar panel models entering Canada are tested for hail by throwing 11x 1 inch hail balls at 80km/h onto the panels, so they shouldn't have problems surviving hail storms. They should however be added to home insurance in case of a freak hailstorm or other uncommon events.

Can Solar Panels Survive Canada Winters?
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Solar panels are actually more efficient when they’re cold! They’re also inclined, super smooth and warm up quickly under sunlight so if we get a snow dump, they won’t be covered for long. Overall, snow will only reduce a system's output by around 5% per year. We account for all these parameters in our designs & financial projections.

What does maintenance of my solar system look like?
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A solar array requires almost no maintenance. Occasional rainfall keeps them clean and we always install a protective guard that keeps animals and leaves from getting under the panels. We offer inspections to check that the wires stay in place and the monitoring app will let you (and us!) know if anything isn't working like it should.

What Happens on Cloudy Days?
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Your production will drop on cloudy or hazy days, but summer days are so long in in Alberta that your solar system will still produce a sizeable amount!

How many panels do I need?
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That really depends on how much your home uses! if you look at your electricity bill and find your monthly usage in kWh (not dollar amount!), you can use our calculator to determine how many solar panels you will need.

What Happens if I replace my roof later?
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On our site visit, we will assess your roof and ask you how old it is - if your roof is over 18 years old and depending on the condition of the shingles we might recommend replacing your roof before we install solar. If you need to replace your roof and it has solar, we would need to uninstall and reinstall the system.

Can I add batteries or more panels in the future?
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Absolutely, our systems are modular so we can add more panels if your electrical needs increase and we can also switch your system to a hybrid system (toggle between grid-tied and off-grid). If you want to add a battery to a system we didn't initially install, we would have to do a site visit to confirm your system is hybrid-compatible.

Aren't payback periods too long?
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Because solar costs have dropped over 80% in the past 10 years, payback periods are much better nowadays. Our clients see payback periods between 6 to 12 years, depending on what you are currently paying for electricity, and your roof geometry and orientation. Your solar system will produce electricity for 25+ years so after it has paid for itself, you'll keep making money.