Understanding How Solar Cells Actually Work in Practice

We all know that solar panels are a great alternative to generating electricity. They are most often seen on top of houses and they turn sunlight into electricity, using the sun as a valuable resource.

Around 16 million homes in the US use solar cells, and there are plenty of environmental benefits that back up the use of them. But, how do they actually work?

How Do Solar Cells Actually Work?

Solar power panels are rectangular in shape and act as batteries: the cells on the panel have been designed to absorb sunlight and turn it into electricity. This means they work best from sunrise to sundown, of course, the sun is the most important part of this process!

The Science

You could get deep into the science of how solar cells actually work, but we’ll give you the basic run-down.

Essentially, the solar panel cells are often called photovoltaic cells, usually made from slices of silicon, a semi-conducting material. Light is made from tiny particles known as photons. The beams of sunlight containing photons then fire straight down onto your solar panels, converting them into a flow of electrons – this is our electric current!

Do They Still Work When It’s Cloudy?

A very common question that the solar industry encounters is whether your solar panels will work on a cloudy day.

The short answer is yes!

All solar panels need is light – so if you can see, then your solar cells will still be working. It is worth noting that although your panels will still be generating electricity, they will generate less than on a day with full, beaming sunlight.

What Are The Advantages?

So, this all might sound great, but you may be wondering what exactly the benefits are.

There is zero noise pollution and they are very safe – no dangers of toxins or fumes leaking, especially important when it comes to your home. They can also be installed in a wide variety of places, including your home, large solar farms, even right in the city center!

They can help reduce energy bills and the installation of solar panels can increase the value of your property. What’s more, they don’t make use of greenhouse gases – in this sense, you won’t be contributing to global warming and will reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

Of course, if you’re considering getting solar panels installed, it’s essential that you choose a licensed solar company to get the job done. Visit https://blueravensolar.com/ to discover the best solar company around, tried and trusted by many.

The Wrap-up

Getting to grips with how solar cells work can seem confusing if you aren’t particularly science-minded, so we hope this guide helped.

Making use of the world’s largest renewable resource, the sun, is a no-brainer. With a host of benefits for you and for the overall environment, there’s no reason to not consider installing solar panels on your home.

Now’s the time to take advantage of what nature has provided for us (and keeps replenishing)!