How Solar Panels Work: Step by Step

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7th Oct 2021

Solar PV (photovoltaic) Systems are a fantastic way of supplying clean energy for your home or business. As more households are starting to adjust their ways of working towards a greener future and living a sustainable lifestyle, solar panel installations are increasing in popularity, but how do they work?

Solar panels produce direct current electricity (DC), this electricity is then transmitted through an electrical inverter which changes it into an alternating current (AC). AC electricity can either be used by the national grid, or any property that the solar panels are installed onto.

Solar panels generate electricity throughout the daytime and work particularly well when sunnier weather is more consistent within the UK. They work by converting energy produced by sunlight (photons) directly into electricity. PV cells are placed between various components that can conduct electricity, such as silicon. Each layer of materials plays their role in creating an electrical field when hit by photons.

Here’s a breakdown on how the process works:

• Tiny particles of energy called photons are produced by the sun
• Many of these photons contact solar modules, consisting of connected solar cells
• The photons that hit the top layer of the solar cell which causes electrons to shift to the bottom layer
• The movement of the electrons generations a direct current (DC) of electricity, which then flows to an inverter
• The inverter’s role is to convert the DC of electricity to an AC current (alternating current)
• AC electricity supplies power to buildings, therefore reducing its carbon emissions and electricity bills
• Solar electricity can additionally charge energy storage systems, just like an EV charger or it can be stored within a battery storage system such as the Tesla Powerwall or sold back to the grid.

Solar panels do not rely on summer-like conditions to work, all that is needed is enough light and visibility for electricity to be generated. Summer months, however, are usually the best time for solar PV systems to power properties, as the more direct sunlight they are exposed to, the higher quantity of power they can produce.

Benefits of installing solar panels

There are many advantages to using solar panels for your home or business:

• They provide clean and renewable energy, helping you to reduce your carbon footprint
• They are cost-effective – saving money in the long time
• Instantly will save you money on your electricity bills
• You can sell any excess of energy back to the grid during peak times, read more here).
• Battery storage helps with this or can store to reuse
• Solar panels can charge your EV (electric vehicle) as well as provide power to the rest of the integrated system, solar energy can be used to power your EV charger as part of your domestic installation.

Battery storage works well with solar panels as they enable solar panels to continue producing energy during the evening and in the event of a power outage. This is due to their Backup Gateway, giving you peace of mind that your home will have a reliable source of power if adverse weather is approaching.  The newest version, The Tesla Powerwall Gateway 2 has twice the capacity to store energy compared to the original model. The Gateway 2 is also extremely user-friendly and can be navigated through the Tesla app; you can also save up to 75% on your energy bills.

We’re proud to say that we are the leading installers of solar panels in the South East, and have been completing successful installations since 2010. If you are interested in using solar power for your home or business, and would like to find out more, please contact us today. Alternatively, you can browse through our range of residential and commercial services, all designed to help you adapt your lifestyle for the better.