Solar PV Technology
Solar panel electricity systems, also known as solar photovoltics (PV), capture the sun’s energy using photovoltaic cells. These cells don’t need direct sunlight to work – they can still generate some electricity on a cloudy day. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run household appliances and lighting:
Components:
Every Solar PV system is made up of several components, solar panels (or modules), an inverter, a generation meter and your existing consumer unit.
- Light – The Sun gives off light, even on cloudy days.
- The Panels – PV Cells on the panels turn the light into DC electricity
- The Inverter – The DC electricity flows into an inverter, which converts it to AC electricity ready to use.
- The Electricity – The Power is fed through a Generation meter and then into your homes consumer unit.
- Powering the home – From your homes consumer unit you will automatically use the free electricity you’ve generated, with any excess going to the grid.
- The National Grid – Any electricity you don’t use is exported to the grid for your neighbours and those further afield to use.