How solar panels work to produce solar energy in three steps

For many, the concept of being able to harness the sun and produce energy that can power your home, business, or car is a mysterious phenomenon. Unlocking the power of the sun in just a few steps can not only save you thousands of dollars in utility bills, but also help create a more sustainable world by reducing our carbon footprint. This is how solar panels work to produce energy:

1. Solar panel technology

Solar panels work to convert sunlight into electricity that your home can use, thus lowering your electricity bills. The panels come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and use a range of solar cell technology. The best panels work the hardest by maximizing every drop of available solar power throughout the day. The best solar panels on the market can produce 70% more energy than lesser quality solar panels over the course of 25 years*. Studies have shown that a solid copper base adds strength to the panels, and ultra-pure silicon provides optimal solar energy conversion. In fact, the world record for efficiency of 24.2% offers 44% more energy per square foot from solar panels, which means they work to produce much more solar power than panels made from other materials. It is also imperative that your panels are designed and tested to withstand the world’s harshest conditions, including temperature swings, high winds, humidity, hail and more. If the design or quality of the solar panel is inferior, it could mean that it will produce much less solar energy. A well certified system has been shown to produce solar power for over 40 years.

2. Installation of solar panels

Once you select the highest quality solar panel technology, the location of the solar panels is key to generating solar power. Some of the most popular locations for panel installation are on the roof of your home or business, surrounding areas on the ground, or a sun canopy. Your solar company will enter the dimensions of your home into a computer-aided design (CAD) program to help assemble a permit submission package. Once the solar company has determined which location will generate the most solar power and the number of panels to be installed, the typical installation of a solar system only takes a couple of days.

3. system monitoring

Once your system is installed, it will immediately start producing solar energy that can be used to power your lights, computers, machinery, and any other electrical devices for your home or business. A utility meter tracks your energy usage and counts both ways. You’ll get credits for solar power produced but not used because it’s returned to the power grid. The utility grid still gives you electricity at night, when you’re not producing enough solar power, but credits earned during the day cover that cost. Remember, the amount of solar power you are producing can change throughout the year depending on where you live and how much sunlight your panels receive on a daily basis. To check how much solar energy your panels are producing, you can use your online monitoring system to track production. If you notice a significant variation, notify your solar company to make sure everything is working properly.

* https://us.sunpower.com/solar-panels-technology/facts/