Solar Power in 2 Minutes: How Solar Panels Turn Sunlight into Electricity
- 2 Rays
- Jan 10
- 3 min read
As we move towards greener energy, it’s helpful to know how solar panels turn sunlight into electricity. Here’s an easy way to understand it:
Capturing Sunlight :
Solar panels are made up of small units called PV cells, usually made from a material called silicon. When sunlight hits these cells, it provides energy which activate the electrons in the silicon, allowing them to move freely.
Making Electricity:
These PV cells have two layers—one positive and one negative. The difference between them creates an electric field that guides the moving electrons, creating an electric current. This is how electricity is made in the panel.
The Flow of Electricity : Generation of Direct Current (DC):
The movement of electrons in the solar panel creates direct current (DC) or electricity, which flows in a single direction from the negative side to the positive side of the circuit. However, because most of our homes and appliances operate on alternating current (AC), this DC electricity needs to be converted.
Changing DC to AC:
Our homes use alternating current (AC), so the DC electricity from solar panels needs to be changed. An inverter does this by switching the current back and forth quickly, turning DC into AC, which is what your home can use.
Using and Storing Energy: Managing Solar Power
Once the electricity is changed to AC, it powers your home. If there’s more electricity than you need, it can either be sent back to the grid (sometimes earning you money) or stored in batteries to use later, like at night.
Energy Utilisation & Storage: Managing Solar Power
Once the electricity is converted to AC, it can be distributed throughout your home to power everything from your refrigerator to your computer.
There are two ways to manage any excess electricity produced by your solar panels:
Grid Connection: Excess electricity can be fed back into the grid, often resulting in credits or payments from your utility company through a system known as net metering.
Battery Storage: Excess energy can be stored in solar batteries for later use, such as during nighttime or cloudy days when solar production is low.
Environmental Impact: Reducing Carbon Footprint
Solar energy is a clean, renewable resource that significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. By harnessing the sun’s power, solar panels help mitigate climate change and decrease our reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
Long-Lasting and Easy to Maintain: Keeping Panels Efficient
Solar panels last a long time—usually 20-25 years—and don’t need much maintenance. Just keep them clean and make sure nothing blocks the sunlight, like trees.
Why It’s a Good Idea: Financial and Environmental Benefits and A Smart Investment
Solar panels can save you money on electricity bills and help the environment. Plus, there are often government incentives to make going solar more affordable.
At 2Rays Solar, we offer top-quality Solar panels, EV chargers, and Battery systems. By using the sun's power, we help you save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and move towards a sustainable future. Whether it is for your home or business, we have the right solution to make the most of solar energy. With 2Rays Solar, the future looks bright!
Credit: Pratham Golechha
Reference list:
Ideas, C.E. (2019). 15 Benefits of Solar Energy. [online] Clean Energy Ideas. Available at: https://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/solar/solar-energy/15-benefits-of-solar-energy/.
Rose, B. (2023). How do solar panels work? [online] Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@Breadarose/how-do-solar-panels-work-bb3c63718ce.
Solar Energy Technologies Office (2024). How Does Solar Work? [online] Energy.gov. Available at: https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/how-does-solar-work.
www.certainteed.com. (n.d.). Solar 101: How Solar Energy Works (Step by Step) | CertainTeed. [online] Available at: https://www.certainteed.com/inspiration/how-tos/solar-101-how-solar-energy-works-step-step.
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