Check out how solar panels harvest the sun’s energy to produce electricity.
How Does Solar Work?
The sun generates free energy!Sun rays, also known as photons, shine on to your solar panels. These panels convert the rays into Direct Current electricity (DC).
That energy is harvested by your solar systemA solar inverter then changes that DC electricity into Alternating Current electricity (AC). This is the type of electricity used to power your home.
You use that energyThis electricity then travels from the solar inverter to your electrical breaker box and is used at your home when ever you need it.
You get credit for excess energy producedWhen your solar energy system produces more electricity than you use, the excess power is sent to the grid for others to use. Your meter spins backwards giving you credit.
Your new electric bill goes down!When the sun is down and your system is not producing electricity, your meter will spin forward. The difference between the electricity you produce and the electricity you consume determines your new electric bill.
Produce Energy, Make Money
When your solar system produces more electricity than you consume, you can get credit for that extra energy from the utility company. Here are some of the major policies (which vary by state and utility company):
Net MeteringAllows you to build up credit on your utility bill when your system produces more power than you consume.
SRECsSolar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) are credits you get for producing solar energy that can be sold to your utility.
Feed-in TariffsAllows you to sell the energy produced from your solar system to the utility for higher-than-retail rates.
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Sun rays, also known as photons, shine on to your solar panels. These panels convert the rays into Direct Current electricity (DC).
A solar inverter then changes that DC electricity into Alternating Current electricity (AC). This is the type of electricity used to power your home.
This electricity then travels from the solar inverter to your electrical breaker box and is used at your home when ever you need it.
When your solar energy system produces more electricity than you use, the excess power is sent to the grid for others to use. Your meter spins backwards giving you credit.
When the sun is down and your system is not producing electricity, your meter will spin forward. The difference between the electricity you produce and the electricity you use is called net metering, and it determines your new electrical bill.
