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How Solar Panels Work

Picture of home solar panels at work on a client's roof.

The Science of Solar PV Panels

Solar panel science is surprisingly simple. Photovoltaic (PV) systems are a specific type of solar system that converts sunlight into electricity. PV panels are generally made of silicon, and chemicals that make the silicon atoms unstable.

When photons from the sun hit the PV panel, they knock loose electrons. These loose electrons flow along wires within the solar cells in a PV panel. This flow of electrons is electricity. Once the electricity is produced, it goes into your inverter and converts from DC electricity to usable AC electricity. It's now ready to power your washing machine, coffee maker, TV- anything you need!

Make Money Off Your Panels (Net Metering)

If you use a grid-tied inverter, your solar panels can actually make you money. When your panels produce excess energy you don't use, this energy is fed back to the grid. Your local electric company will actually pay you for this excess energy. Ask your Leo Sunergy Solar Consultant for more details about Net Metering and how it can benefit your family or business or visit Solar Energy Savings .

Where Are PV Panels Installed?

If you live in the northern hemisphere (US), your panels will likely be placed on your south-facing roof. If you live in the southern hemisphere, your panels will go on your north-facing roof. In locations where there is very little roof space with the right orientation, panels can also be installed on poles or on the ground. We can help check with your local government or HOA if you would like to consider pole or ground-mount options.

The location and number of panels you need depends on how many hours of the day your PV panels will spend with full sun exposure and what your climate is like. For instance, someone in Texas (5 peak sun hours per day) may need fewer PV panels to generate the same amount of electricity than someone in New York, where they receive only 4.2 peak sun hours in a day. Climate will impact system sizing as well- Seattle, WA and Miami, FL both receive 4.5 peak sun hours, but a home in the rainy northwest will require more panels to produce the same wattage.

What About Nights and Cloudy Days?

Since your PV panels will only produce electricity when the sun is out, you will probably want to connect your solar system to your local power grid. This will ensure that you still have electricity even when your solar system isn't producing. For more information about a grid-tied system, check out the page, How Solar Inverters Work .

Benefits of Solar Cells

Since solar cells are modular, you system can actually be increased or decreased at any time. Make sure you choose the right inverter if you plan to change the size of your system at any point. You'll want to consider microinverters if you plan to build an addition to your home or office, or if you think you may want to install more panels in a few years.

Call or email us if you have any additional questions about solar panels and solar modules.

We provide solar power installation in Maryland (MD), (including Baltimore, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Rockville,) Washington DC, Virginia (VA), Pennsylvania (PA), New Jersey (NJ) and Delaware (DE).