So How Does Solar Energy Work?
There are some basic, key components common to most home solar power installations, whether rooftop mounted or ground mounted. Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels convert sunlight to electricity. The most common types of PV solar panels are made of crystalline silicon solar cells. The electricity produced runs through an inverter that converts the direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity that can power anything, most commonly an electric car or entire home.
As one of the best parts of installing a solar energy system, the homeowner trades fuel sources and takes advantage of the unlimited and free sunshine. In a perfect environment, this would be enough and the property would be completely self-sufficient. But as we know, the sun isn’t always shining. With the appropriate energy storage hardware any home can become independent. Most solar energy installations today rely on the existing utility and grid services for the backup instead of the local energy storage. In the near future, that additional hardware may be more affordable.