Solar photovoltaic panels for home electricity

How do solar photovoltaic panels work?

Solar photovoltaic panels transform free energy from the sun into electricity. This is then converted from a DC current to an AC current via an inverter, to make it suitable for household use. The panels capture energy from the sun and convert it into DC electricity via groups of photovoltaic (PV) cells.

Can solar panels power a home?

Solar panels are used to power everything from calculators to sports stadiums to satellites — and they can just as easily be used to power a home. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist – or anything close to it – to get solar panels for your home.

How do solar panels produce electricity?

Solar panels produce electricity through a process called the photovoltaic effect. Most home solar panels are made of silicon, a semiconductor material. When sunlight hits the silicon in solar panels, the electrons get excited, generating an electric current that goes to a solar inverter and is then used to power appliances and devices.

Why should I get solar panels for my home?

There are a handful of reasons to get solar panels for your home, but the biggest one is energy cost savings. Home solar is simply much cheaper than paying for grid electricity, and can lead to tens – sometimes hundreds – of thousands in savings over the warranty period of the panels.

How do I choose the best way to use solar electricity?

Before deciding on the best way to use solar electricity at home, assess the potential solar energy that can be produced at your address. Because PV technologies use both direct and scattered sunlight to create electricity, the solar resource across the United States is ample for home solar electric systems.

What is a solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system?

A solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system can reliably produce electricity for your home or office. These small or distributed solar systems are often installed by home or business owners to offset their electricity costs.