Solar energy takes energy from the sun and converts it into electricity for all of your home and business needs. It takes advantage of photons, which are released by the sun and contain a lot of energy. At the moment, solar energy accounts for only 0.5% of US energy, but the technology is improving and prices are dropping so this number should increase. Read on to find out more about how solar energy works and how you can start to use it.
Key Takeaways:
- Photons hit a solar cell and knock electrons loose from their atoms. With a conductor attached, it forms an electrical circuit. Electrons flowing through this circuit generate electricity.
- A solar inverter takes the DC electricity from the solar array and uses that to create AC electricity.
- You can still benefit through a system called “net metering.” If you are not home or currently using electricity.
“Our sun is a natural nuclear reactor. It releases tiny packets of energy called photons, which travel the 93 million miles from the sun to Earth in about 8.5 minutes. Every hour, enough photons impact our planet to generate enough solar energy to theoretically satisfy global energy needs for an entire year.”
Read more: https://us.sunpower.com/what-solar-energy-and-how-do-solar-panels-work
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