HOW DOES SOLAR ENERGY WORK?
At its most basic, solar power is about capturing particles of light from the sun and converting them into energy which can power your household. The result is an energy solution that is good for the environment… and can save you money!
Solar power is the way forward
Solar energy is about taking a natural, renewable resource available to everyone on the planet, and turning it into energy that can be used to power your household. It just makes sense.
The sun isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Whether we choose to capture the light particles and turn them into energy or not, the sun will rise each morning and set each night.
By using solar, we are reducing carbon emissions, minimising our footprint on the earth and limiting our reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels.
The science behind solar
You may have heard the term photovoltaic or PV when referring to solar… this is the scientific process that converts sunlight into energy.
So, how does it work?
1. Each solar panel on your roof is made up of a number of silicon cells. As the sunlight hits the panel, the cells absorb the light.
2. Silicon has conductive properties, so when it absorbs the light it sets electrons in motion.
3. The flow of these electrons initiates an electric current, i.e. electricity.
Connecting to the grid
The electricity that your solar panels generate is direct current (DC) electricity. The electricity you need to power your home is alternating current (AC) electricity.
The final stage in the solar process is for the wires in your panels to combine the electricity generated by each cell and carry it to an inverter. This inverter then converts it into the AC electricity you will use to power your home.
Once you are connected to the grid and generating your own AC electricity through your inverter, you can then feed any excess energy you create back into the grid.
The savings with solar
While you can take advantage of feed-in tariffs by feeding your excess energy back to the grid, the real benefit of solar in terms of dollar value, is in the savings you can make.
Energy prices are increasing year-on-year… but by using a smart approach to how you use the solar energy you are creating, you can future-proof your power bills. Imagine what you could do with all of the money you save?
How much you can save depends on the size of your system, your location and how you use energy in your household.
Are you ready to harness the power of the sun?
We love the science behind solar… it’s why we’re in this business! We are passionate about educating Australians on the benefits of solar and rewriting the solar energy story in Australia.
During a free assessment, our trained assessors can explain how solar works, the science behind it and how to make it work for you to save you money. Contact us to book in your free assessment.