How Solar Energy Works
Solar electric, or Photovoltaic (PV), panels and roof tiles, generate electricity using the light energy from the sun.
The panels and tiles produce energy from daylight, not direct sunlight, so they still produce electricity on cloudy or overcast days.
The electrical energy produced is either used directly in the home, or exported to the electricity grid.
At night electricity from the grid is supplied in the normal way.
1. Daylight hits the photovoltaic cells in the tiles or panels
and is converted to clean electricity.
2. The inverter, a small box usually placed in the loft space, converts the electricity from direct to alternating current, for use in the home. This power is sent straight to the home's fuse board.
3. When the solar PV system is producing more energy than is needed, power is exported to the grid. At night, power is imported from the grid in the normal way.
Our video library has a short youtube clip on how it works.