Solar saves you money! Solar protects you from
future energy rate hikes! Solar allows you
to reduce your carbon footprint!
Photovoltaics solar cells are best known for generating electric power by converting energy from the sun into electricity.
When certain semiconducting materials, such as silicon, are exposed to sunlight, they release small amounts of electricity. This process is known as the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect refers to the emission of electrons from the surface of a metal in response to light. It is the basic physical process in which a solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) cell converts sunlight to electricity.
Sunlight is made up of photons, or particles of solar energy. Photons contain various amounts of energy, corresponding to the different wavelengths of the solar spectrum. Only the absorbed photons generate electricity. When this happens, the energy of the photon is transferred to an electron in an atom of the solar PV cell. Only sunlight of certain wavelengths will work efficiently to create electricity, therefore solar panel PV systems can still produce electricity on cloudy days, but will not function as effectively as on a sunny day.
The solar cells produce direct current electricity from sun light, which can be used to power equipment or to recharge a battery. To produce more power, solar cells can be interconnected to form solar panels or modules. Solar panels range in output from 10 to 300 watts. If more power is needed, several solar panels can be installed to form a solar panel PV array. Today the majority of solar panel PV arrays are used for grid connected power generation. In this case an inverter is required to convert the DC to AC.
Solar panel PV systems can be designed to meet any electrical requirement, no matter how large or how small.
- Solar panel PV Array – converts sunlight to electricity. The solar panels generate DC electricity – or direct current – sending it to the inverter transform it into AC electricity.
- The Inverter – transforms the DC power into AC electricity – or alternating current – for typical household or business needs.
- Main Service Panel (MSP) – distributes solar and utility power to the home or business.
- Loads- appliances, lights, etc. use the solar power or utility power electricity.
- Net Metering -At times when you are not using all of the electricity produced by your system, your meter will spin backwards, A valuable feature of solar panel PV systems is the ability to connect with the existing power grid which allows owners to receive credit for excess electricity fed back to the utility.
- Utility Power Grid – receives your excess power and sends it to areas that are need of electricity. Your neighbors, who don’t have a solar panel PV systems, will buy your excess electricity from the Utility.
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