How does a solar panel work?

You can fit solar panels on your roof and produce your own electricity. But what actually happens between the sunlight on your roof and the power in your socket? In this article we explain it step by step.

1. From sunlight to direct current

A solar panel consists of solar cells: thin plates that can convert sunlight into electricity. As soon as light falls on them, current starts to flow. Solar panels supply direct current, which you cannot use directly in the house.

2. The inverter turns it into usable power

To use the power in the house it has to be converted into 230-volt alternating current. Many small systems already have a small inverter built in. These so-called AC modules can be connected directly to the mains.

If you fit larger panels they may not have an inverter. You then need a separate inverter to feed into your mains supply. We like to work with Enphase micro-inverters: every panel then gets its own inverter.

• Solar cells convert light into direct current
• The inverter turns it into alternating current
• AC modules have the inverter built in
• Micro-inverters work per panel

3. Why an inverter per panel makes a difference

With a single central inverter, the weakest panel in the string determines what the whole string delivers. A chimney, a dormer or a tree in the way drags the rest down. With a micro-inverter per panel, each panel works independently and delivers what it can at that moment. On a roof with shade that makes a considerable difference to the annual yield.

In practice this subject belongs with sales and installation and solar water heaters. There you can read how we work and what is possible, or you can request a no-obligation quote straight away.

Further reading: what does energy advice cost?, what does heat pump maintenance cost?, what does zone control cost?.

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