HOW SOLAR WORKS
How Solar Panels Works?
‣ This image shows what solar panels look like in a residential home. The sun’s rays hit the solar panels, which are mounted on the roof of a home or business. Solar panels are composed of photovoltaic (PV) cells. PV cells are made of semiconductor materials. It works by using the energy of the sun’s photons to knock electrons loose from their atoms. This creates an electric current used in power appliances and electronics. It converts sunlight into direct current (DC) throughout the day.
‣ The inverter converts the DC generated by the solar panels into alternating current (AC).
‣ The breaker box is a safety device. It protects the electrical system from overloads and short circuits. These breakers are rated for specific amounts of current. It “trips” or “shuts” off if the current exceeds the rating. It also helps to prevent electrical fires and other hazards.
‣ The utility meter measures the energy used by a home or business. This utility meter tracks excess solar energy in a grid-tied solar energy system.
‣ If your solar panel system generates more power than you need, the excess energy is used to offset the energy you consume at night. This process occurs in reverse.
Store Excess Solar Energy with Net Metering
Net metering allows customers to use the electrical utility grid to apply the excess power they are producing. The excess power during the day flows from your solar panels into the grid, causing your electric utility meter to run backward. Later at night time when you need power, your meter runs forward as it draws power from the grid. A simple way to think about it is that the grid acts like a battery soaking up the excess power you produce and giving you the power back when you need it.
Net metering saves the consumer the expense of installing an expensive battery bank as well as the issues that come with maintaining it. There is no charge to using the utility grid. If you generate enough electricity each month, you will see a negative amount due on your electrical bill. If you have nothing due on your bill, you have achieved Net Zero. This means you are generating enough during the day to offset what you use for the entire night.
On gloomy or wet days, your home requires more electricity than the solar panels produce. In that case, you will need to use electricity from the utility grid to make up the difference. This electricity will be subtracted from the credits that you have accumulated through net metering. As a solar customer, you will only be charged for the net amount of electricity you use. It is the difference between the electricity you generate with your solar panels and the electricity you use from the grid. It reduces your electricity costs by allowing you to use more energy than you generate.
How Does Net Metering Affect an Electric Bill?
During the summer, many homes produce more electricity from their solar panels. However, in the winter, these same homes use more electricity from the grid. Utility companies will not typically issue a monthly check for excess solar energy. Instead, excess solar energy will be credited to your account. You use these credits to offset the cost of electricity. It is the same electricity you use from the grid during the winter months or at night.
With the appropriate design, we have several advantages. A solar power system generates the necessary amount of electricity. This amount of electricity fulfills the home’s annual electricity needs. The system produces more electricity than required in some months or less. A home produces electricity and uses more or less than it produces in a given month. If it uses more, it buys electricity from the utility company to make up the difference. In this case, the homeowner would pay for the electricity.
Our Real Time Read Outs Make Understanding Your System Easy
Our system readouts tell you the amount of power produced at any time throughout the day. It also gives you an overview of the system and panel-by-panel views. It also provides a piece of information on how much electricity is used at any given moment. These Real-Time Readouts provide immediate results. It helps you to understand your system’s efficiency and identify performance issues.
Real-time readouts are valuable for managing your solar energy system. It allows you to know everything is working optimally.
