{"id":69,"count":18,"description":"How does solar power work? A simple explanation is that solar panels convert sunlight into electricity that can be used immediately or stored in batteries.\r\n\r\nThe sun essentially provides an endless supply of energy. In fact, with the amount of sunlight that hits the Earth in 90 minutes, we could supply the entire world with electricity for a year -- all we have to do is catch it!\r\n\r\nThat's where solar panels come in.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[pnpZip background=true border=true primary_color=\"#8B72D3\" content_texts=true utm_campaign=\"get_started_injectable\" utm_medium=\"how does solar power work\" upper_text= \"Compare quotes from multiple\" upper_text_span = \"trusted installers\" lower_text= \"See how much solar could lower your\" lower_text_span = \"energy costs\" get_started_text = \"Get started\"]\r\n<h2>How solar panels power a home<\/h2>\r\nSolar power has many applications, from powering calculators to cars to entire communities. It even powers space stations like the <a href=\"https:\/\/pv-magazine-usa.com\/2022\/07\/13\/solar-panels-power-the-james-webb-telescope\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Webb Space Telescope.<\/a>\r\n\r\nBut most people are concerned about how solar panels can power their house and reduce their electricity bill.\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yzqWJ1fY1_I\" width=\"1268\" height=\"713\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n<strong>Here's a step-by-step overview of how home solar power works:<\/strong>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;text-align: left\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When sunlight hits a solar panel, an electric charge is created through the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/engineering\/photovoltaic-effect#:~:text=Photovoltaic%20(PV)%20effect%20is%20a,the%20electrons%20in%20the%20atoms.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">photovoltaic effect<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> or PV effect<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (more on that below)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;text-align: left\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The solar panel feeds this electric charge into inverters, which change it from direct current (DC) into alternate current (AC) electricity<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;text-align: left\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The AC electricity runs through your electrical panel and is distributed throughout your home -- just like grid energy<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Excess solar energy is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/solar-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stored in batteries<\/a> or pushed onto the grid to power local systems (like your neighbor's house!)\r\n<ol style=\"list-style-type: lower-alpha\">\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left\">Through net metering, solar owners get credit for the excess energy they put on the grid to offset the grid energy they pull off the grid when their panels aren't producing<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left\">With battery storage, solar owners can store excess production to power their homes at night<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now that we've covered the basics, let's break down how solar panels work in more detail.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<h2>How does solar power work? The photovoltaic effect explained<\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Solar panels turn sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic (PV) effect, which is why they're often referred to as PV panels.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JyQB83TXniY?si=MjTfHw8gUN9UIDNZ\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The photovoltaic effect occurs when photons from the sun\u2019s rays hit the semiconductive material (typically silicon) in the cell of the solar module. The photons activate electrons, causing them to free themselves from the semiconductive material.<\/span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_9880\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"392\"]<img class=\"wp-image-9880 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.solar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/photovoltaic-effect-with-labels.png\" alt=\"how does solar power work: photovoltaic effect with labels\" width=\"392\" height=\"400\" \/> <em>Photons hit the solar panel causing electrons to be freed during the photovoltaic effect.\u00a0<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The free electrons flow through the solar cells, down wires along the edge of the panel, and into a junction box as direct current (DC). <\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This current travels from the solar panel to an inverter, where it is changed into alternative current (AC) that can be used to power homes and buildings.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<strong>Related reading:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/solar-panels-for-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How To Choose Solar Panels for Your Home<\/a>\r\n<h2>How is solar energy used to power your home?<\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most home solar systems are \u201cgrid-tied\u201d meaning that the solar system, home electrical system, and local utility grid are all interconnected, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">typically through the main electrical service panel.<\/span>\r\n\r\nConnecting these systems means you can power your home with solar electricity during the day and grid electricity at night. It also means your solar system can push excess electricity onto the local grid to power surrounding systems, like your neighbor's house.\r\n\r\nThrough <a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/what-is-net-energy-metering-for-solar-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">net metering<\/a>, you earn credit for excess solar production that can be used to offset the grid electricity you use at night.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.solar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Solar_Home_Net_Metering.jpg\" width=\"1000\" height=\"609\" \/>\r\n<h3>Home solar with battery storage<\/h3>\r\nHome solar with battery storage works similarly to the process above, but intsead of pushing excess solar production onto the grid, it's first stored in batteries in your home or garage.\r\n\r\nPairing solar and battery is especially handy for:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Off-grid solar systems<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/how-long-can-a-battery-provide-power-during-an-outage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Backup electricity during power outages<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Areas without net metering policies<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Powering your home on 100% clean and renewable energy<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nRelated reading:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/can-i-use-solar-panels-without-a-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Can I Use Solar Panels Without Battery Storage?<\/a>\r\n<h2>What types of material are used in solar panels?<\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The most common residential solar panels\u00a0contain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/monocrystalline-solar-panels-polycrystalline-comparison\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">monocrystalline or polycrystalline<\/a> (also called multicrystalline) solar cells. <\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Both types of cells produce electricity when exposed to sunlight, however there are some key differences between the two:<\/span>\r\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\"><strong>Monocrystalline solar cells<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\"><strong>Polycristalline solar cells<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tend to appear darker in color, often black or dark grey<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Often appear a dark blue when exposed to light<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Performs better in high temperatures and shady conditions<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Less efficient at higher temperatures<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tend to be more expensive<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Tend to be less expensive<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If space is limited on your roof or project site, a higher-efficiency, monocrystalline panel may be preferred, and could result in a better return on investment. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alternatively, a lower-cost, slightly less efficient, polycrystalline panel may do the job just as well if you have ample roof space on your home.\u00a0 <\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many panel manufacturers also build panels containing both mono and polycrystalline wafers to form solar cells, capable of harvesting energy from a wider spectrum of light.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Be sure to ask what type of cell (\u201cmono or poly\u201d) your home solar system design contains, This distinction may affect the aesthetics and economics of your project.<\/span>\r\n\r\n[pnpZip background=true border=true primary_color=\"#8B72D3\" content_texts=true utm_campaign=\"get_started_injectable\" utm_medium=\"how does solar power work\" upper_text= \"Compare quotes from multiple\" upper_text_span = \"trusted installers\" lower_text= \"See how much solar could lower your\" lower_text_span = \"energy costs\" get_started_text = \"Get started\"]\r\n<h2>How does sun exposure affect solar panel efficiency?<\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is important that your solar panels receive good insolation (sun exposure) throughout the day and are free from as much shading from trees or neighboring obstructions as possible. <\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are a number of factors that influence solar panel efficiency. They include:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Temperature<\/strong> -- Solar panels operate best in temperatures between 59 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Type of solar panel<\/strong> -- Solar panels typically range from 15-20% efficient, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/best-solar-panels\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the best panels pushing 23%<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Shading\u00a0<\/strong>-- Solar panels perform best in wide-open sun. Even partial shading can substantially reduce the efficiency of a panel<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Orientation and angle\u00a0<\/strong>-- Solar panels <a href=\"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/how-much-energy-does-a-solar-panel-produce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">perform best when they are directly facing the sun<\/a> and are often tilted to increase efficiency<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Solar engineers use satellite imagery to determine which panels and placement will provide optimum solar panel efficiency for you home.<\/span>\r\n<h2>How does solar power work FAQs<\/h2>\r\n<h3>How does home solar power work?<\/h3>\r\nSolar power works by converting sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic (PV) effect. The PV effect is when photons from the sun's rays knock electrons from their atomic orbit and channel them into an electrical current.\r\n\r\nUsing PV solar panels, sunlight can be used to power everything from calculators to homes to space stations.\r\n<h3>How does solar power work at night?<\/h3>\r\nSolar panels require sunlight to generate electricity, so they do not generate electricity during the day.\r\n\r\nHowever, home solar systems typically generate excess electricity during the day, which can be stored in batteries or sent to the local grid in exchange for net metering credits. This is how solar owners maintain power when the sun isn't shining.\r\n<h3>Do solar panels work on cloudy days?<\/h3>\r\nYes, solar panels still generate electricity on cloudy days, although not as effectively as sunny days. Solar panels can capture both direct and indirect light (light that shines through clouds), but perform at around 10-25% of their normal efficiency when it's cloudy.\r\n\r\nCloudy days can be beneficial, however, as rain washes the panels and increases their overall efficiency.","link":"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/how-do-solar-panels-work\/","name":"How Does Solar Power Work on a House? Your Questions Answered","slug":"how-do-solar-panels-work","taxonomy":"category","parent":3,"meta":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.5 (Yoast SEO v19.10) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Does Solar Power Work on a House? | Solar.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How does solar power work? 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