Solar 101
“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power!
I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”
– Thomas Edison
Solar Photovoltaics (PV)
An elegant technology that produces electricity from sunlight without moving parts.
How Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Works
01
PV cells convert sunlight to direct current (DC) electricity via the photovoltaic effect.
The inverter converts DC into alternating current (AC) electricity
02
The electrical panel sends power to your lights and appliances.
03
The utility meter measures the energy you draw and the system feeds excess energy back to the grid.
04
The Photovoltaic Effect
Ever wondered how solar panels convert the sun’s rays into electricity? This process is called the photovoltaic effect.
A PV cell is made of semiconductor material. When sunlight strikes the cell, the semiconductor material absorbs some of the energy-containing photons present. After enough sunlight is absorbed, the photons knock electrons loose from the PV’s silicon atoms, and the free electrons naturally migrate to the surface of the cell.
The movement of electrons – each carrying a negative charge – toward the front surface of the cell creates an imbalance of electrical charge between the cell’s front and back surfaces. This imbalance, in turn, creates a voltage potential like the negative and positive terminals of a battery. Electrical conductors on the cell absorb the electrons. When the conductors are connected to form an electrical circuit, electricity flows.
Parts of a Solar System
Power up your business
We offer solar plans tailored for small, medium, and large businesses. Harness the sun’s rays to generate green energy and lots and lots of power savings.
Visit our commercial website to learn more.
Solar 101
“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power!
I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”
– Thomas Edison
Solar Photovoltaics (PV)
An elegant technology that produces electricity from sunlight without moving parts.
How Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Works
01
02
PV cells convert sunlight to direct current (DC) electricity via the photovoltaic effect.
The inverter converts DC into alternating current (AC) electricity
03
04
The electrical panel sends power to your lights and appliances.
The utility meter measures the energy you draw and the system feeds excess energy back to the grid.
The Photovoltaic Effect
Ever wondered how solar panels convert the sun’s rays into electricity? This process is called the photovoltaic effect.
A PV cell is made of semiconductor material. When sunlight strikes the cell, the semiconductor material absorbs some of the energy-containing photons present. After enough sunlight is absorbed, the photons knock electrons loose from the PV’s silicon atoms, and the free electrons naturally migrate to the surface of the cell.
The movement of electrons – each carrying a negative charge – toward the front surface of the cell creates an imbalance of electrical charge between the cell’s front and back surfaces. This imbalance, in turn, creates a voltage potential like the negative and positive terminals of a battery. Electrical conductors on the cell absorb the electrons. When the conductors are connected to form an electrical circuit, electricity flows.
Parts of a Solar System
Power up your business
We offer solar plans tailored for small, medium, and large businesses. Harness the sun’s rays to generate green energy and lots and lots of power savings.
Visit our commercial website to learn more.
Solar 101
“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”
– Thomas Edison
Solar Photovoltaics (PV)
An elegant technology that produces electricity from sunlight without moving parts.
How Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Works
01
PV cells convert sunlight to direct current (DC) electricity via the photovoltaic effect.
02
The inverter converts DC into alternating current (AC) electricity
03
The electrical panel sends power to your lights and appliances.
04
The utility meter measures the energy you draw and the system feeds excess energy back to the grid.
The Photovoltaic Effect
Ever wondered how solar panels convert the sun’s rays into electricity? This process is called the photovoltaic effect.
A PV cell is made of semiconductor material. When sunlight strikes the cell, the semiconductor material absorbs some of the energy-containing photons present. After enough sunlight is absorbed, the photons knock electrons loose from the PV’s silicon atoms, and the free electrons naturally migrate to the surface of the cell.
The movement of electrons – each carrying a negative charge – toward the front surface of the cell creates an imbalance of electrical charge between the cell’s front and back surfaces. This imbalance, in turn, creates a voltage potential like the negative and positive terminals of a battery. Electrical conductors on the cell absorb the electrons. When the conductors are connected to form an electrical circuit, electricity flows.
Parts of a Solar System
Power up your business
We offer solar plans tailored for small, medium, and large businesses. Harness the sun’s rays to generate green energy and lots and lots of power savings.
Visit our commercial website to learn more.