How Solar Works
- Solar Panels: Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight into DC power.
- Inverter: The DC power is sent to an inverter, which converts the electricity into usable AC power – the power that we use every day.
- Electric Panel: The AC power travels from the inverter to the electrical panel, or breaker box. This energy is then available to power your lights, appliances, air conditioning and all of your electrical needs.
- Utility Grid: The utility meter records the net amount of energy generated through your solar energy system. When you create more power than you use, your meter will spin backward and the excess energy is sent to the electric grid. This offsets the cost of your electricity usage at night or on cloudy days when your system is not producing solar  energy.
There are 2 major forms of solar energy: photovoltaic (PV) systems and solar thermal systems.
PV cells convert sunlight into electricity, powering everything from lamps to electronic devices and even electric cars. They work any time the sun is shining, and more electricity is produced when the sunlight is more intense and strikes the PV modules directly. Solar thermal systems use the sun’s heat to make electricity or are used in water heating applications to displace gas use. Solar thermal can also be used in large-scale electric generation.
In PV systems, a flow of direct current (DC) electricity is produced when sunlight strikes an array of solar panels. Appliances and machinery however, operate on alternating current (AC), as supplied by your utility.
The DC energy procuded by the panels is fed into an inverter that converts the DC power into AC power, which then feeds into the main electrical panel that powers your home or business.