How solar energy works

How does a solar inverter work?

The solar inverter converts it to alternating current (AC) electricity, which most U.S. electric grid and household appliances use. When you think about solar power, you probably imagine solar panels. As we mentioned, solar panels convert sunlight into electricity that you can use immediately or store in a solar battery.

How does solar power work?

Solar power works by converting energy from the sun into power. There are two forms of energy generated from the sun for our use – electricity and heat. Both are generated through the use of solar panels, which range in size from residential rooftops to ‘solar farms’ stretching over acres of rural land. Is solar power a clean energy source?

How do people use solar energy?

People now use many different technologies for collecting and converting solar radiation into useful heat energy for a variety of purposes. Solar photovoltaic (PV) devices, or solar cells, convert sunlight directly into electricity. Small PV cells can power calculators, watches, and other small electronic devices.

How does a solar cell convert sunlight into electricity?

A solar cell is a device people can make that takes the energy of sunlight and converts it into electricity. How does a solar cell turn sunlight into electricity? In a crystal, the bonds [between silicon atoms] are made of electrons that are shared between all of the atoms of the crystal.

How do solar photovoltaic cells work?

Solar photovoltaic cells are grouped in panels, and panels can be grouped into arrays of different sizes to power water pumps, power individual homes, or provide utility-scale electricity generation. Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (copyrighted)

How do solar panels create electricity?

But if you want to go a bit deeper into the process of how solar panels create electricity, we'll explain what you should know. Solar cells are typically made from a material called silicon, which generate electricity through a process known as the photovoltaic effect.