HOW IT WORKS
When you consider that enough sunlight falls on the earth's surface each minute to meet the world's energy demands for an entire year, it's clear that sunlight represents a brilliant solution for our energy needs. While energy radiating directly from the sun has always been available to us, now we can effectively harness it. Since the development of the first solar cell in 1954, its usage has continued to grow steadily along with its efficiency. Today, solar power is considered the most abundant and pollution-free of all known energy sources — and we've only just begun to tap its incredible potential. HOW SOLAR CELLS WORK It starts with a solar cell; a semiconductor device that generates electricity from sunlight. A solar cell is made from a very thin slice of a silicon crystal. Sunlight activates electrons within the solar cell creating current which flows out of the cell and produces electricity. Individual solar cells are grouped together to form a solar cell module or panel that can be mounted on your roof. HOW IT WORKS IN YOUR HOME Solar cell panels on your roof absorb the sun's rays, even on cloudy days, and convert them to usable electrical energy. Next, a device known as an inverter takes the dc current from solar panels and changes it to ac current for use throughout your home. Your solar system is connected to the utility grid through a standard meter that tracks both your power usage and any surplus production from your solar system. During sunny days when your solar system generates more power than your home needs, your electric meter actually reverses direction and spins backwards as you lend that energy to the grid. When the sun goes down, you effectively retrieve that energy when you need it. This process is called net metering and allows the grid to act like a battery for you. |
.To deal with global warming, the first step is to do the numbers....
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