Solar panels collect clean, renewable energy in the form of sunlight and convert this into electricity for your home or business. The sun is a large natural nuclear reactor and sends tiny parcels of energy called photons almost 150 million kilometres to the earth. In theory, enough photons impact our planet in just one hour to generate enough solar energy to satisfy global energy requirements for an entire year! As solar technology improves and the cost of installing solar panels plummets with the help of State Government incentives, our ability to capture and harness the sun’s renewable energy is increasing.

 

How do solar panels work?

 

Solar energy comes from the sun with panels made out of photovoltaic cells designed to convert the sun’s energy into electricity. Solar panels are composed of both negative and positive charge cells with layers of silicon, phosphorus (negative charge), and boron (positive charge). When the tiny parcels of photons hit the photovoltaic cells on the solar panels, they are absorbed and knock loose the positive and negative charge cells generating an electrical current. Multiple cells make up multiple solar panels, and so multiple panels can generate more energy for your needs.

 

How do solar panels generate electricity?

 

Solar panels convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity, and with the help of an inverter, it is converted into alternating current (AC) electricity to power your home. An inverter also acts as fault protection against electrical surges and unsteady voltage.

 

With the careful planning and installation by professionals from a clear energy approved solar retailer such as Captain Green, a solar panel system will generate adequate power during the day and then enough to use at night as well.

 

What about if I am not home? What happens to the “extra energy”?

 

So, what happens if you are not home to use the power your solar panels are generating during the day? What happens when it’s raining or a cloudy day? And what happens at night when there is no sun? Fear not; you will still have adequate power through a system created called “net metering.”

 

In peak sunlight periods, such as the middle of the day or over the summer months when the sun shines longer and is more powerful, solar panels typically produce more energy than a homeowner requires. To help this, excess energy is fed back into the electricity grid used by the area in which they live. A net meter records the energy sent to the electricity grid, which is then credited to the homeowner to draw on from the grid at night or cloudy days.

 

The benefits of solar energy

 

Solar panels give you consistent power throughout the day and night from a natural and renewable energy source. By generating your own electricity, you are doing your part in reducing greenhouse emissions which contribute to global climate change. Solar panels are ruggedly built and following installation, require little to no maintenance, apart from periodic cleaning to keep them clear of dirt and debris. This means they can last for decades when maintained properly.

 

Along with being environmentally friendly, solar panels are a more economically functional option. Once a system is installed, the power it produces for the remainder of the system’s lifespan is free. This, in turn, reduces electricity bills and in some circumstances, eliminates them altogether!

 

The environmental and economical advantages of using solar panels to generate your electricity requirements are among many other benefits. By browsing our website or calling one of our experienced and professional team members, you’ll gain a better overall knowledge of just how efficient and versatile solar power can be for you and your home.