How do solar panels work?
Learn how energy from the sun becomes clean, green electricity that powers UK homes and businesses.
Watch the video below to learn how solar panels capture energy from the sun to generate 100% renewable electricity for your home or business.
How do solar panels work?
Solar panels are made out of photovoltaic cells that convert the sun’s energy into electricity.
Photovoltaic cells are sandwiched between layers of semi-conducting materials such as silicon. Each layer has different electronic properties that energise when hit by photons from sunlight, creating an electric field. This is known as the photoelectric effect – and this creates the current needed to produce electricity.
Solar panels generate a direct current of electricity. This is then passed through an inverter to convert it into an alternating current, which can be fed into the National Grid or used by the home or business that the solar panels are attached to.
What are some of the advantages of solar energy?
- There is 14.6GW of installed solar in the UK – that’s more than four times the capacity of Britain’s largest fossil fuel power station.
- Solar panels can be installed in a wide range of places. From larger, countryside solar farms that can support local biodiversity by providing an undisturbed habitat for bees, butterflies and nesting birds, to rooftop solar panels in city centres that can help combat fuel poverty.
- Solar panels don’t create any noise pollution while generating electricity. This means that installations aren’t intrusive – whether they’re in crowded urban locations or quiet rural ones.
- Solar panels are very safe. They’re mostly made from silicon sheets, and there’s no danger of the photovoltaic cells leaking or emitting any toxins or fumes.
- Solar panels help you to cut your carbon footprint, and will pay for themselves through savings in your bills in an average of 14 years.
How can I get solar panels?
We install solar panels for homes and businesses across the South of England. We directly employ all of our installers, meaning that you can trust you’ll get great quality hardware, service and aftercare.
