This post is the first in a two part series exploring the workings of solar panels – first off we will start with Solar PV (Electricity) and in the next post I will move on to the workings of Solar Thermal (Hot Water).
Let’s look at the workings of solar panels in the form of solar pv and how they actually generate that electricity that allows you to power your home and earn a nice tax free income.
I don’t want to provide an in-depth technical analysis of how electric solar panels work so here’s my simplified guide to how they actually work.
First off the solar pv panels are positioned on metal brackets and mounted to the roof of a property, those solar panels are made up of silicon, the silicon allows the panels to take in direct current by moving tiny electrons within the silicon. The direct current collected is converted to alternating current by the use of an inverter – the inverter is connected to your system which is usually positioned in you home or nearby outer building. The electricity that the system has generated can be now used to power anything you wish, from your appliances in your home to providing power for lights and charging your electric vehicle.
Video courtesy of: http://www.hestiaservices.co.uk
So there it is, my simple guide to the workings of solar pv panels – I hope the video worked well in explaining how they work if my technical jargon became overwhelming.
If you have any questions please feel free to leave them in the comments.
