The Power of the Sun
Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is nothing new. In fact, its origin dates back to 1839 when French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerellar first demonstrated the photovoltaic effect, or the ability of a solar cell to convert sunlight into electricity. Of course, solar has since progressed and continues to evolve daily, but do you know how it works?
The Science Behind Solar
Solar power can be tricky to understand, but it comes down to the photovoltaic effect. Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic solar cells that absorb sunlight and transform that light’s energy into electricity.
Here’s a more straightforward step-by-step look into how that happens:
- Sunlight, which carries tons of tiny bits of energy known as photons, hits the solar panel containing the solar cells.
- These photons hit the top layer of the solar cell and cause electrons to flow to the cell’s bottom layer.
- The electrons flow through conductive wiring to an inverter where it is transformed from direct current (DC) electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity, which is used to power your home, businesses, farms, and so on.
How Does A Solar Panel System Work?
The way solar energy is generated and stored can be broken down into three main types: on-grid solar systems, off-grid solar systems, and hybrids.
On-Grid Solar Systems
The on-grid system, also known as grid-tied, is most commonly used by homes and businesses. These systems don’t need batteries because they are connected to a public electricity grid. Any excess electricity generated is exported back to the grid where it is then resold by the utility company to another user. The utility then credits you for the energy your panels exported.
One drawback to purely on-grid systems that have no battery backup is that they cannot generate electricity during a power outage since outages usually occur when the electric grid is damaged. If the solar system were still feeding electricity into a damaged grid, it would risk the safety of the people repairing the network faults.
Off-Grid Solar Systems
As its name implies, an off-grid system is not connected to a public electric grid, so it relies on battery storage for your system to operate. Therefore, these systems must be designed appropriately so they will generate enough power throughout the year and have the battery capacity to meet your home’s requirements, especially in the middle of winter when sunlight is scarce.
Off-grid systems are less common and mostly found in remote areas due to their need for larger battery backups which can be costly. However, battery prices are dropping rapidly, so these systems are rapidly becoming more common.
Hybrid Systems
The final primary solar system is the hybrid solar system. This system combines factors from the on-grid and off-grid systems by utilizing both grid-tied solar and battery storage. Due to the decreasing cost of battery storage, systems already connected to the electricity grid can also start taking advantage of battery storage. This means your system will be able to store solar energy that is generated during the day and use it at night. When the stored energy is depleted, the grid is a backup, allowing consumers to have the best of both worlds. Hybrid systems will be the most common type of install going forward because they benefit both utilities and homeowners. Utilities can create a more stable grid by optimizing the storage capacity of individual homes to balance electric demand throughout the day, and homeowners benefit from stable and affordable energy available to them.
Are You Considering Going Solar?
Solar has been around for decades and continues to evolve as more people switch to green energy. If you are considering making the switch, contact EFS!
As one of the most experienced energy-saving solar panel installation companies in St. Louis and the Midwest, EFS Energy is focused on helping our customers achieve energy independence by generating clean, renewable energy from solar panel systems. We offer multiple long-term warrantees and provide the quality and customer service you deserve.
If you are interested in switching your business, or farm to solar, visit our website or contact EFS today at (314)-771-5131.
