Prostar Solar is gaining momentum around the world as more and more countries have begun transitioning to solar as a primal energy source. As the cost of solar energy has plummeted in recent years alongside major improvements in technical efficiencies and manufacturing quality, many homeowners are starting to look at solar as a viable alternative energy solution. And as solar enters mainstream energy markets, the big question is, “how do solar panels work?” In this article, we’ll break down exactly how solar panels produce energy for your home and how pragmatic going solar really is.
How do solar panels work and generate electricity?
A standard solar panel consists of a layer of silicon cells, a metal frame, a glass casing and various wiring to allow current to flow from the silicon cells. Silicon is a nonmetal with conductive properties that allow it to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. When light interacts with a silicon cell, it causes electrons to be set into motion, which initiates a flow of electric current. This is known as the “photovoltaic effect,” and it describes the general functionality of solar panel technology.
The general photovoltaic process, as described above, works through the following steps:
- The silicon photovoltaic solar cell absorbs solar radiation
- When the sun’s rays interact with the silicon cell, electrons begin to move
- Moving electrons creates a flow of electric current, captured by nodes and wiring in the panel
- Wires feed this direct current (DC) electricity to a solar inverter to be converted to alternating current (AC) electricity
Other important solar panel parts
In addition to silicon solar cells, a typical solar panel includes a glass casing that offers durability and protection for the silicon PV cells. Under the glass exterior, the panel has a layer for insulation and a protective back sheet, which protects against heat dissipation and humidity inside the panel. The insulation is important because increases in temperature will lead to a decrease in efficiency, resulting in a lower solar panel performance.
Solar panels have an anti-reflective coating that increases sunlight absorption and allows the silicon cells to receive maximum sunlight exposure. Silicon solar cells are generally manufactured in two cell formations: monocrystalline or polycrystalline. Monocrystalline cells are made up of a single silicon crystal, whereas polycrystalline cells are made up of fragments or shards of silicon. Mono formats provide more room for electrons to move around and thus offer a higher efficiency solar technology than polycrystalline, though they are typically more expensive.
How do solar panels work for your home?
Solar panels work by absorbing sunlight with photovoltaic cells, generating direct current (DC) energy and then converting it to usable alternating current (AC) energy with the help of inverter technology. AC energy then flows through the home’s electrical panel and is distributed accordingly. Here are the main steps for how solar panels work for your home:
- Solar panels absorb the sun’s energy and convert it to DC electricity
- The solar inverter converts DC electricity from your solar panels to AC electricity, which is used by most home appliances
- Electricity flows through your home, powering electronic devices
- Excess electricity produced by solar panels is fed to the electric grid
How does grid connection work with solar panels?
Though electricity generation with solar panels may make sense to most people, there’s still a lot of general confusion about how the grid factors into the home solar process. Any home that is connected to the electrical grid will have something called a utility meter that your energy provider uses to measure and supply power to your home. When you install solar panels on your roof or on a ground mount on your property, they are eventually connected to your home’s utility meter. The production of your solar system can actually be accessed and measured by this meter.
Most homeowners have access to net metering, a major solar incentive that significantly improves the economics of solar. If you have net metering, you can send power to the grid when your solar system is overproducing (like during the day in sunny summer months) in exchange for credits on your electric bill. Then, during hours of low electricity production (such as nighttime or overcast days), you can use your credits to draw extra energy from the grid and meet your household electricity demand. In a sense, net metering offers a free storage solution to property owners who go solar, making solar an all-in-one energy solution.
Considering that the most common aversion that people have to going solar is the issue of what to do at night or on days with bad weather, a free storage solution as efficient as net metering is a game changer in terms of solar adoption. These types of incentives, plus the fact that the cost of solar has dropped by almost 70 percent in the past decade, can explain why the solar industry is growing at an exponential rate.
How homeowners can guarantee major solar savings
For those starting to consider a solar panel array for their home, there are a number of factors to consider including financing, equipment, installer selection, and warranties. In addition to all of these topics is the question of how to make sure you can get a good deal and generate strong energy savings in the long run. For people new to the solar shopping process, we have some key points of advice that will guarantee you get the best deal on your solar array.
You May Like
- Grid-tied electrical system
- Advantages of Grid-Tied Systems
- Do I need Modified Sine Wave or Pure Sine Wave Inverter?
- What are advantages and disadvantages of solar power
- What is kilowatt hour
You must be logged in to post a comment.