The Basics of How Solar Panels Work
Everyone knows that solar panels turn sunlight into energy. But how exactly do they turn energy from sunlight into usable electricity? The High-level Explanation As sunlight hits a solar panel, it creates an electric field, which is otherwise known as electricity. This electricity, which is in DC (direct current) form, flows to the edge of the panel into a conductive wire. The conductive wire then brings this electricity to an inverter that transforms it from DC to the AC (alternating current) electricity needed to power buildings. After the electricity is converted to AC power, another wire transports it from the inverter to a breaker box. The breaker box then distributes the electricity throughout the building as needed. Any energy not needed in the building flows through the utility meter, causing it to run backward. This credits your property for excess energy generation, and in some places, you can be credited by the utility company for this excess energy that is flowing into the electric grid. The Molecular-level Explanation Solar panels are made from many small photovoltaic cells. These cells can convert sunlight into electricity and are made up of semi-conductive materials, usually silicon. This semi-conductive material is able to conduct...
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