How does solar power work in a house?
Solar panels exploit material properties of special impure silicon. Very loosely speaking, when sunlight strikes the blue silicon layer of a solar panel, it knocks electrons loose. More electrons rush in to fill the gaps. The process repeats as long as the sun hits the panels, the movement of the loose electrons creating an electrical current. This current is collected from the panel surface by a network of wires and routed into an inverter that changes the electricity from direct current (DC, like in batteries) to alternating current (AC, like in most houses). The electrical wires then connect to your house’s service panel through your utility company electrical meter. When the sun is on the panels, the electricity flows into your house, turning the meter backward. When there is no sun on the panels, electricity is pulled from the power grid, running the meter forward. At the end of the month, Xcel Energy give you a credit for the electricity that you generated and only charges you fo
