Solar Electricity Explained

Solar electricity or photovoltaic (PV) for your home is where the sun's energy is used to produce electricity.

There is another form of solar, called solar thermal. This is where the sun is used to heat hot water, if you are interested in this then you please see solar thermal.

Solar PV cells or solar panels use the light energy from the sun to generate free and green electricity for your home and because solar panels do not need direct sunlight to work you still generate some electricity throughout winter and on cloudy days.

The strength of a solar panel is measured in kilowatt peak (kWp), this determines the amount of energy the panel is capable of making in full sunlight.

How the System Works

The solar panels are typically installed on a roof with a southerly aspect (see Solar Panel Installation Solutions for other solar panel mounting options).

When sunlight shines on the panel it causes a reaction which creates an electrical charge across the layers. This energy is known as direct current (DC)

The direct current is then fed into your home via an inverter where it is converted into alternating current (AC) to be used around the house.

If the solar installation produces more electricity than is being used any excess is exported to the grid.

When the system is not producing, electricity is imported from the grid in the usual way.