How Solar Power Works
Sunlight is converted to DC (direct current) electricity using the silicon and other chemical elements within the solar panels (PV array). The DC current runs down the electrical cabling to the inverter. The inverter transfers the current from DC to 240 volt AC (alternating current)- so that it is suitable for use in your home. Any unused energy is sold back to the grid through your meter. No energy is stored. The only way to store energy is through a battery. This is an expensive option and is generally only used where mains electricity is not available.
Read more about the science behind photovoltaic systems.
Read about how panels are made.
Some History
In 1839, Edmund Becquerel discovered that certain materials would give off a spark of electricity when struck with sunlight. In the 1950s, Bell Labs produced solar cells using silicon that could convert four percent of the energy in sunlight directly to electricity. By the 1960s, these photovoltaic (PV) cells were powering spaceships and satellites. The technology started being used for power generation in remote areas and now, with the help of government incentives and reducing production costs, the technology is increasingly being used in homes.
