Solar panels are becoming more and more popular for homeowners and businesses across the country. They offer reduced energy bills and self-sufficiency instead of complete reliance on the public grid, and they can even provide opportunities for more savings through net metering and state incentives. At Blueline Energy, we want our customers to know how does solar energy work and know the benefits it offers. Learn more about the science of how solar panels can generate electricity for your property. Then use that knowledge to explore the potential benefits in more detail.
How Do Solar Panels Generate Electricity for My Home?
How does solar energy work? Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells. These cells absorb the energy from sunlight, and that energy creates small charges that interact with the electrical fields in the PV cells, resulting in a flow of electricity. The wiring that connects solar panels to the home then converts the electricity into the appropriate current so appliances, devices, and fixtures within the home can draw on that source of electricity rather than the grid. Depending on your region, you may even have hardware that can send excess electricity into the grid to participate in a net metering program.
The amount of electricity solar panels can generate depends on how much sunlight energy the cells can absorb. Factors like the angle of the sunlight, the intensity of the sunlight, and the duration of sunny hours in your location, as well as the efficiency specifications of the panels themselves, impact how much electricity you can predictably generate.
Do Solar Panels Only Work in the Summer?
Solar panels can work all year long. In fact, sunny but cool days are the best periods for efficient electricity generation. This is because, while solar panels rely on exposure to sunlight, they can’t work as well in hot temperatures that threaten to overheat them. Ideally, you want to maximize your panels’ exposure to cool sunlight in the mornings but allow plenty of exposure throughout the day.
You can also modify the angle of your solar panels to facilitate greater production based on your location and the time of year. Across the USA, ideal angles range between 30 and 45 degrees so the panels can capture as much sunlight as possible from the southern-oriented sun. But how does solar energy work out in the fall and winter? Increasing the steepness of that angle during the winter can help your panels ‘keep track’ of the sun’s new relative orientation throughout the colder months. When you live in a snowy area, increasing the angle of your panels also helps keep them free of snow.
While you may see less energy generation during the winter because of shorter days and a potential disconnect between the sun’s angle and your panels’ angles, they still work all winter long and can help keep your energy bill low.
How Switching to Solar Can Benefit You
No matter where you live in the United States or what time of year it is, switching to solar offers many potential benefits, including:
- A source of electricity during a brownout or blackout
- Reduced energy costs
- Access to a sustainable, renewable source of energy that aligns with your values
- Potential savings from local net metering programs, if you qualify
Make the Switch to Solar With Blueline Energy
Blueline Energy is here to help you transition from reliance on the grid to having efficient solar panels installed on your property. Our team can help you calculate what solar panels you need, uncover potential savings and access to net metering, and get your new solar system installed. Reach out today to find the right system for your home.
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