How Do Solar Panels Work?

Simply put, solar panels convert the sun’s energy into usable electricity. The sun provides the most abundant source of energy. Solar panels are designed to capture that energy to provide electricity for your home. 

Solar panels are comprised of PV cells that have a positive and negative layer that form an electrical field that creates energy. 

The Step-by-step Guide

1

PV CELLS CAPTURE SUNLIGHT’S ENERGY TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY

As the sunlight hits the cells, photons and electrons interact with one another to create an electrical current.

2

THE ELECTRICITY IS CONVERTED TO USABLE ENERGY

The energy is produced in the form of DC energy and flows from the panels to the solar inverter that converts the energy into AC energy, making it usable energy for the home.

3

AC ENERGY POWERS THE HOME

As the AC energy from from the inverter into your main service panel, it will circulate throughout your home to provide energy needs.

4

EXCESS ENERGY IS STORED ON-SITE AND/OR SENT TO THE GRID FOR CREDIT

When you produce more energy than your home uses, the energy will flow into an on-site battery backup or through a bi-lateral meter to be stored at the utility’s grid. With most utility companies, they will issue one-to-one credits, and the homeowner will only be responsbile for paying the utility company for the net amount of energy used. This is known as net-metering.

What Is Net Metering?

Net metering is an agreement between the solar system owner and utility company that says excess solar power generated by solar panels that are sent to the grid will be exchanged for credits, which offset the electricity usage from the grid.

The credit is in the form of a one-to-one ratio, commonly referred to as the retail rate. This means that the utility company is purchasing that excess for the same amount they will sell it back to the homeowner of the solar system. By selling excess back, it can be used to cover the cost the homeowner may need to use from the utility company at a later time. You end up only paying for the “net” amount of energy, or the difference between how much you sold and actually used.

 

By selling excess back, it can be used to cover the cost the homeowner may need to use from the utility company at a later time.

Kash HasworthOwner

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