Solar systems are among the best and fastest advancing forms of renewable energy available today. Solar panels help you to save energy while cutting your energy bills and providing an excellent return on your investment.
How Does Solar Energy Work?
In the simplest of terms, solar panels harness the energy of the sun and convert that into DC (Direct Current) and then to AC (Alternating Current), providing your home with electricity.
The solar panels on your roof provide the surface that collects the energy then converts the solar energy into solar power in one of two ways: photovoltaic conversion (PV) or solar thermal conversion.
Photovoltaic Conversion (PV)
This type of conversion is known as direct conversion. It is the most commonly used form of generating solar energy used in your home. It uses solar panels and converters for the generation of electricity.
Solar Thermal Conversion
This type of conversion is known as indirect conversion and is also used to generate heat for your home by using a thermal collector to generate the heat used to warm water and heat your home.
The main way that solar systems help to save energy is by removing your home’s dependence on a larger grid system. The grid system can become overloaded, is not producing renewable energy, and is susceptible to natural disasters like flooding, hurricanes, and tornadoes. The power from a home solar system, however, is a standalone, renewable source of energy.
How Does Solar Power Work in Your Home?
Solar panels feed the energy from the sun that shines onto your rooftop into a solar inverter that converts the DC current into AC electricity used to power the appliances in your home. If you have excess power not required to run your home, this power is either stored for future use or sent via a switchboard into the main power grid for others to use.
This main power grid acts like a bank. Excess power is exported from your system, but you can take it back when needed.
A rooftop solar system reduces the strain on electricity distribution and transmission by drawing power to run your home from your on-site solar panels instead of relying completely on the main power grid.
For more information on the many benefits of going solar, contact SunLynk today!