What Do Solar Panels Collect to Produce Energy?

It is one of the cleanest, most dependable sources of energy at our disposal. It is also renewable, multi-purpose and easy on the environment. And, of course, it has been lauded for being cost effective and a tremendous alternative for traditional power. With the sun's rays hitting strategically placed solar panels, your home can be equipped with electricity to generate power for your appliances and other useful devices.

But exactly how do solar panels work, and what do they collect and store in order to produce power for homes and businesses? Perhaps you've never thought about the process, but understanding how it works can be helpful and informative.

The Process

In essence, solar panels are collecting solar radiation from the sun. The panels themselves consist of individual cells made with a thin sheet of silicon under a sheet of glass. The silicon converts sunlight into electricity rather than heat. With the silicon are other materials that are meshed in such a method that there are extra electrons in one part of the cell and lacking electrons in another part of the cell.

At the point where sunlight strikes a cell, photons in the light displace the extra electrons, causing them to relocate to the part of the cell that is missing electrons. This flow creates an electrical current that gathers in wires found in the panels, and the current makes its way to the inverter, the part of the solar power system that converts the direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC), ready for your use.

Panel Placement

The conversion of sunlight to usable electrical energy is often referred to as the Photovoltaic Effect. Photovoltaic means "electricity for light" (photo = light; voltaic = electricity).

Ideally, your panels will be situated on your roof, facing south for homes in the Northern Hemisphere. Expert installers say the panels should be placed at an angle that corresponds with the latitude at which they are installed. This means if you live at 30 degrees north, your panels should be installed at a 30-degree angle.

Your cells will collect more solar radiation if the panels are placed in an area free of trees and where there would be shade during the peak sunlight hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's critical that the each individual cell is unobstructed, as the entire system's efficiency can be cut in half if even one cell is shaded.

System Matters

For maximum performance and efficiency, make sure you do your due diligence and research reputable, knowledgeable designers and installers as you go through the process of converting to a solar energy system for your home or business. Different systems have different capabilities and capacities, and a professional will help determine what is right for your needs.

Compare Solar Companies