Solar power is the most abundant natural energy on earth. But how do we capture sunlight and convert it into usable electricity? To understand how this all works, we have to start from the beginning.

The sun strikes the Earth with 173,000 terawatts of solar energy continuously; this is 10,000 times the world’s total energy consumption! Using solar panels, sunlight is captured and converted into electricity.

Sounds simple right? Well, it’s actually quite a scientific process! A solar cell, or a photovoltaic (PV) cell, is small and square-shaped. A PV cell is made of semiconductors which are special materials like silicon. When light hits the PV cell, it is absorbed within the cell’s semiconductor material, knocking electrons loose. The flow of these electrons is known as a current.

Sunlight is captured in the form of photons which gets converted into electrons of direct current (DC) electricity. DC power is then converted into an alternating current (AC) which is usable energy for our homes.

So how can we use this solar electric current? Well, the PV cell uses metal contacts at the top and bottom which allows us to draw the current off the cell and into something else. This is a very simplified explanation of the PV cell and there’s way more to how this stuff works on a more scientific level. But for now, let’s just focus on the basics.

The electric current/power that’s generated by a PV cell is in the form of DC electricity. What’s interesting about this is that once sunlight is converted to DC electricity, it’s not exactly ready to be used in your home yet. DC electricity is converted into AC power; this is the type of electricity that you can use for appliances that are plugged into an outlet in your home. (DC electricity is the type of energy you see in batteries).

Now that we know how a photovoltaic cell works, let’s take a closer look at the Solar Power System. A solar system includes: solar panels, one or more batteries for power storage, a charge regulator or controller for a stand-alone system, an inverter to convert DC to AC electricity, wiring, and mounting hardware. A net meter can also be part of the system.

A solar system can last for more than 30 years. Panels are usually installed/mounted on the rooftop of a home or business. (This allows for unobstructed access to sunlight).

A system of batteries, regulators, controllers, and chargers are also installed and connected to your panels using wires. A net energy meter can also be installed to keep track of the solar systems energy production. Whatever energy produced by the solar system and used by you is tracked. Any excess energy goes back into the electrical grid through the meter.Your electric company only bills you for the net consumption of energy you use. Electric bill savings can be realized in the first month of installation! (Note, check with your local electric company to find out if you qualify for net metering).

How a solar power system works is pretty straightforward when you’re not looking at the finer details of the science and breaking down how photons and electrons are being converted into energy. Just remember, the simple truth of a solar power system is that it harvests the energy of the sun and converts it into usable electricity.