Solar Power How Do Solar Panels Work

This entire energy conversion process from the panel to your house s outlets is known as the photovoltaic effect.

Solar power how do solar panels work.

Ac energy then flows through the home s electrical panel and is distributed accordingly. When solar cells are struck by light they produce a flow of electrons or electric current. Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity at the atomic scale. Solar energy works when the photons of an atom knock the electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity.

Since this process happens at such a small scale it is invisible for humans. Every light switch you flick and outlet you use is running off of ac current. How do solar panels work. Solar panels contain cells of semiconductive material usually silicon usually encased in a metallic frame and tempered glass.

When subject to sunlight photovoltaic cells create a flow of electric charge inside the solar panel due to the photoelectric effect. Solar panels work by absorbing sunlight with photovoltaic cells generating direct current dc energy and then converting it to usable alternating current ac energy with the help of inverter technology. Solar panels are made up of these small things called pv cells and many pv cells linked together make a solar panel. Most solar cells are made out of silicon.

This flow travels in a circuit of wires that connect groups of solar panels called arrays.