How Does Solar Energy Work?
Simply put, a solar cell captures a portion of the sunlight that strikes it, and through a series of electrical connectors in the cell, converts the sunlight into useable DC Power. From there, the energy can be used for charging batteries, powering DC appliances, or it can be ran through a DC to AC Power Inverter and then used to power AC appliances, or sent back out to the utility grid where the electric utility will use it and purchase the energy from you.
Solar energy, in a nutshell, works when energy from the sun is radiated to the earth and is absorbed by solar panels, also known as solar cells where the heat energy is converted into electricity. Solar or light energy can power utilities as small as a pocket calculator, a laptop computer bag or even a complete home or office building. In addition to converting sunlight into electricity, there are other simpler applications. For example, passive systems can be as simple as a solar oven that has a black surface that gets hotter as it absorbs sunlight within a clear containment device that lets light pass through but traps the heat inside. Many energy efficient homes are designed using this principle. In the case of solar panels, photovoltaic cells or solar cell semiconductors produce electricity when they heat up from absorbing the sun’s energy. Because these cells store the heat, they can continue to work in the absence of light until they cool down. There are many methods for capturin
A solar array uses the sun’s light as fuel, with the photons from the sun being converted into electricity when they hit the PV cell. The material in the solar cell causes the photon to kick off an electron and the freed electrons are then collected and channeled out of the solar module to become DC (direct current) electrical power. This DC power is converted into “AC” power, which is the type of power in the grid that standard appliances and electrical devises use, in a devise called an inverter. Read more if you are interested in the photovoltaic effect, modern solar panels, inverters, or just more general information about the science and technology behind solar energy.
