What Is Solar Energy And How Does Solar Panel Works?

By Author: sunnysky solar
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Introduction to solar energy

Solar energy is a renewable energy source that is found in abundance on earth. It can be easily captured and put to multiple uses. Sun is not just responsible for providing light to our planet in the daytime; each particle of sunlight that comes on earth contains a lot of energy. This is none other than solar energy. Solar energy has a major role in providing energy and plays an effective part in varying weather conditions. The solar radiation that hits the earth’s surface every hour is enough to fill the global energy requirement for almost a year.

Ever thought how the sun is capable of delivering this much heat? Sun is a combination of a lot many nuclear reactors. There is constant nuclear fusion that takes place in the core of the sun producing a huge amount of heat and energy that constantly radiates from the surface of the sun towards space in the form of heat and light.
The radiated solar power can be further harnessed and transformed into a form of useful energy with the thermal collectors and the photovoltaic cells. The solar panels installed can help in collecting this energy.

Working of the solar panel

Whenever the photos hit on a solar cell, electrons are loosened from the atoms. In case the conductors are attached to the negative and positive side of the cell, an electric circuit is formed. Electricity is generated as and when the electrons flow through any such circuit. Multiple such cells combine to form the solar panel and collection of multiple panels can make up a solar array. More are the number of solar panels deployed at a place; more of the energy will be generated.

Composition of solar panel

The solar panel also called by name photovoltaic is made up of a large number of solar cells. The solar cells are made of semiconductors called silicon. The semiconductors have a positive and a negative layer that together forms an electric field as in a battery.

Process of electricity generation through solar panels
There are four major steps involved in the generation of electricity
via the solar panels:

• Solar panels convert the sunlight into the direct current.
• An inverter deployed beside the solar panel helps in converting the direct current into alternating current.
• The alternating current is used in powering the houses.
• The extra electricity is used by the grids.

Role of solar inverter

The DC electricity that is generated from the solar array is used to create the alternating current with the help of a solar inverter. The inverter works as the system’s brain. The task of ground fault protection is done by the inverter. It also works toward energy production along with power point tracking and system stats.
What happens to the extra energy?

A solar panel that is connected to a power grid will definitely generate much more energy than what can be utilized. The extra unused energy is stored back in the grid and can be used by someone else. For more energy that is being produced by your system, you will get the credits from the power company. You can later use these credits to get power back from the grid as and when needed. There is a two-way meter that always keeps a track of energy used and the energy that is sent back to the grid.

Working of solar panels with the grid connection
As per the understanding of most of the people, solar panels are helpful to generate power of their own so that they need not depend on any of the power companies. So what is the role of the grid in the solar energy systems at homes?

Well, an electrical grid connected to the homes comes with a utility meter that is helpful in measuring how much electricity has been utilized. The net metering is a device that will help out to send the unused energy to the grid in case your solar panel in overproducing. So at times when the production is low especially at night times, you can utilize the credits and fulfill the energy needs of your home. Solar power economics is thus best utilized with the help of net metering.

Contact us: Sunny Sky Solar

Visit us: https://sunnyskysolar.com.au/

Office Address:

Level 34, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane City, QLD 4000

Branch Address:

155 Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes, QLD – 4227

Company Mailing Address:

PO Box 466, Acacia Ridge, QLD 4110

PHONE: 1800801347

FAX: 0733414581

Email:info@sunnyskysolar.com.au