The sun acts as a powerful natural nuclear reactor. It releases several tiny packets of photons, which is energy that travels several million kilometers to the earth in minutes.
This means we receive enough photons hourly to generate solar energy that can keep all our lights on. Nothing beats solar energy if you are environmentally cautious. Here is everything you need to know about solar panels and how they work.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
When the tiny packets of photons hit a solar cell, they loosen electrons from atoms. If the conductors are attached to the negative and positive sides of the cell, an electric circuit is formed. Then electrons flow through this circuit to produce electricity.
Think of your solar panels made up of multiple cells. Numerous panels can be wired together to create a solar array. If you want to generate more electricity, you will need to deploy more panels.
What Are Solar Panels Made Of?
PV (photovoltaic) solar panels are made of several solar cells. Like semiconductors, these are made of silicon, and you can get them in different kinds of glass packaging.
These are made with negative and positive layers, which combine to create an electric field like a battery. Some may also be encased with proprietary encapsulants and conductive adhesives to protect the cells and prevent sun damage or other environmental exposure.
How Is Electricity Generated?
Direct current (DC) electricity is generated from your PV solar panels. This is where electrons flow in a single direction around a circuit. Think of how a battery powers a light bulb.
The electrons will move from the negative side of your battery. They pass through the lap you want to power and return to the positive side of the battery.
With alternating current (AC), the electrons go through a push and pull mechanism in the reverse direction.
This can be compared to a typical car engine cylinder. Generators create alternating current electricity when a wire’s coil is spun near a magnet.
How the Solar Panel System Works
For a new home’s solar energy installation, the sunlight will hit the panels on the roof. The panels automatically convert all that energy into DC electricity. This flows into your inverter.
The inverter will then convert electricity from DC to AC, which is needed to power everything in your home. This is a clean and easy process that is becoming more affordable and energy-efficient.
If you are not home to use all that electricity or worry about not seeing the sun for a few days, your solar system is not generating power consistently. You may have a grid-tied PV system that produces more energy than you need.
The extra energy is fed back to the grid to use somewhere else. Then you get credit for producing all this energy that is helping others. Therefore, you can use that credit to draw from the conventional grid when it is a rainy day or nighttime. If you still need more convincing, check out Blue Raven Solar.
Install Solar Panels Today
If you decide to install solar panels, you are making an easy decision to save the environment and save a lot of money by switching to renewable and clean energy. If you enjoyed these energy-efficiency tips, check out some of our other posts for more information.
