Solar
power can seem like the newest thing in renewable energy because it is always
improving. This power source finds its origins with French scientist Edmond
Becquerel, who first discovered the photoelectric effect – the way certain
materials give off an electrical spark when sunlight hits them – in the early
1800s. By the 1950s, other scientists were developing solar cells from silicon.
Today,
solar technology has become a common and reliable source of power. But how do
solar panels work, exactly? Understanding this innovative technology will
explain how your solar panel array keeps your household running efficiently and
cleanly.
How
Do Solar Panels Work?
Solar
panels are made of photovoltaic (PV) cells that collect energy from the sun.
These cells are made of silicon crystals that are blended with impurities like
boron to make them better conductors of electrical current. This type of energy
produces no harmful emissions the way fossil fuels like coal or petroleum do.
Two
Types of PV Cells:
Individual
PV cells produce only a few watts of electricity, so they’re grouped together
in modules or panels to generate more power. Typically, there are two types of
solar panels available: monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline
solar panels are thin, flexible and incredibly efficient. They also
tend to be on the expensive side, as the manufacturing process is more
intense. Polycrystalline
solar panels are more rigid, often encased in aluminum frames for
mounting on roof or ground racks. The process for producing them is less
expensive, which translates to lower consumer cost, though they may not be as
efficient as monocrystalline panels.
Converting
Sunlight into Electricity
When
sunlight enters the cells, positive and negative electrons start moving around
and knocking into each other inside the cell. Thin wires create a pathway for
those electrons to exit the cell, resulting in a flow of electricity just
waiting to be used.
How
Do Solar Panels Work at Night?
It’s
easy to see how solar panels work on a bright, sunny day. But how do solar
panels work at night or when the sun is hidden behind clouds? The answer lies
in where that electric circuit leads to when it exits the panel. The energy
leaving your solar panels is Direct Current (DC), like that from the batteries
in a flashlight.
A power inverter converts
the DC into Alternating Current (AC) that is suitable for household
appliances. Power
converters, on the other hand, keep the type of current the same while
changing the voltage output to accommodate sensitive electronics like laptops
or commercial applications like medical equipment. Connecting solar panels to
a high-capacity
battery means you’re storing any unused solar energy for later use.
Some all-inclusive
kits for home solar power include inverter/chargers that automatically
toggle between charging the battery when grid power is available and accessing
that stored power at night or when the grid goes down.
How
Do Solar Panels Work for Your Home’s Utility Bills?
Besides
providing a reliable source of emergency power during an outage, a home solar
system can make an impact on your monthly utility bills. But how do solar
panels work on a house’s electricity bills? When you connect your solar panels
to your electrical utility meter, you can get credits for sending energy to the
grid during sunny days when your system’s production exceeds your household
needs.
This
is known as “net metering,” and it’s essentially a way to store any unused
power from your solar panels. This allows your system to draw energy from the
grid when you need it – like at night or during inclement weather.