People take several measures to live greener lifestyles. Some start to recycle. Others change the types of lightbulbs they use.
However, the gold standard for green lifestyles has long been a solar panel system. Fortunately, solar installation has become more affordable and efficient than ever before. The previous decade saw several changes and improvements in this technology.
Many people would consider installing solar panels. However, they often wonder, “how does solar work?”
If that’s your question, keep reading! We’ll explore the ins and outs of solar energy in the guide below.
How Does Solar Work?
Solar power works by converting energy from the sun into electricity. You can then use this electricity to power your home.
In doing so, you’ll save significant amounts of money from your energy bill. In many cases, people can even eliminate their electric bills! Over time, these savings can help you pay off the solar installation you receive.
So, how does the solar panel system convert solar energy into electricity? We’ll explain this process in the next section.
How Do Solar Panels Convert Solar Energy Into Electricity?
As mentioned above, solar panels convert energy from the sun into electricity. This occurs because of photovoltaic cells.
Solar panels use three primary materials. First, they have silicon with a glass casing. From there, these get installed in a metal panel frame.
When light particles hit the silicon layer, they knock electrons off those silicon atoms. This collision creates a photovoltaic charge (PV charge). This charge is essentially an electrical current that your solar panel wiring captures.
This electricity forms a direct current or DC. Then, the DC converts to an alternating current in the inverter. This electricity is what you’ll use to power your home.
How Do Solar Panels Work in Cloudy Weather?
People often wonder about how solar panels work in cloudy weather. There are a few different answers to this.
Solar panels can still generate electricity in cloudy weather. The reason is that UV light can penetrate the cloud cover and make contact with your solar panels.
However, cloudy weather usually causes solar panels to function less efficiently. In the worst-case scenario, they can become up to 25% less efficient!
Fortunately, there are higher-end solar panels that get around this problem. These solar panels can generate more electricity with less sunlight, making them perfect for cloudy weather.
Where can you find these solar panels? Usually, you can look for solar installers in your area who carry several solar panel brands. One example of such a company is Blue Raven Solar.
As a side note, it’s often helpful to purchase solar batteries. These batteries can store excess electricity and use it to supplement your solar panels when they run less efficiently.
Find the Solar Energy You Need
If you were wondering, “how does solar work,” we hope you found an answer! Solar energy is an excellent asset for many homeowners and can save significant amounts of money.
So, use this information to find the best solar panels for your house. Before long, you can generate your electricity!
We hope you enjoyed this article. If so, check out our other content today. We have several other articles that can answer your questions about solar panel installations.
