Back to Basics: How Solar Panels Work

Monday, April 26th, 2010

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Before we get into the nitty gritty of solar energy, we thought it’d be a good idea to take a post or two to ensure that we’re all on the same page when it comes to solar panels and the products you might find. There’s a lot of information out there, some good, some not so good. We think it’s important that you have the clearest information handy.

That’s why our first series of blog posts is called, “Back to Basics.” In this series, we’ll be talking about some of the more fundamental aspects of solar energy—how it works, how they get installed, the different types of solar panels, Solar Renewable Energy Credits and other financial incentives, and more.

Let’s dive right in.

Solar panels take sunlight and convert it into energy that can be used to power your house or heat your water.

There are two basic kinds of systems: Photovoltaic or PV, also called solar electric, uses sunlight to generate electricity. It’s the same technology found on pocket calculators, just on a larger scale. PV systems can be designed to generate the majority of the electricity used in your home, or just a portion of it.

Thermal solar uses sunlight to heat water. Typically this is used for a home’s hot-water supply. A well-designed thermal system can be extremely effective, and provide most of the hot water used in your home.

Both solar energy systems let you do your part towards reducing greenhouse gases and improving the environment.

So, how do they work?

Solar photovoltaics consist of units of silicon cells that are placed under glass. When sunlight hits the panel, a molecular reaction takes places in the silicon, causing the PV cells emit energy which is then collected by a circuit that transforms that energy into an electric current. The current then travels down into a piece of equipment known as an inverter, which makes the current usable in your household.

A solar thermal system also uses sunlight, but in a very different way. Solar thermal systems, also often called solar hot water systems, capture the sun’s radiation using a solar collector and then heats hot water with it. Instead of using PV cells, these panels use copper coils that contain glycol, a non-toxic liquid. As the glycol heats up, it moves into a piece of equipment called a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat of the glycol to the water, which is then stored in a tank. The glycol then moves back into the panel through the copper coils, never having come into contact with your water supply. The hot water generated by these systems are ideal for washing and bathing.

So there you have it. Feeling smart about solar? Why don’t you take our quiz to see how smart you might be!

Tagged: Climate change, solar electricity, solar energy, solar panels, solar power, sustainable
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