This goes without saying, but when it comes to a truly sustainable and abundant source of energy, nothing comes close to Solar. It is said that almost 173,000 terawatts of energy emitted from the sun hits the earth at a single time, resulting in the creation of energy that is 10,000 times more than what the world needs to operate.
Solar energy is now being hailed as the definite solution to the problem of climate crisis staring all of us today. The ability to capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity may very well end our over-reliance on fossil fuels soon. Suffice to say, solar energy is important. Therefore, it is important to know what exactly it is and how it works.
This article will serve as a quick crash course on the topic for those of us who aren’t privy to the benefits and scope of solar energy. As leading solar panel dealers in Pune and all of India, we believe that Oriana is more than qualified to tackle this subject and drop some imperative knowledge on you that will both intrigue and help.
So without much energy, let’s understand how solar energy works and a few other things that are closely associated with it.
The Power of the Sun and Rising demand for Solar Power
To understand how solar energy works, you must first understand the unfathomable power that the sun possesses. Think of the sun as a natural nuclear reactor. This all-powerful nuclear reactor releases tiny packets of energy, which are called photons. The photons travel 93 million miles from the sun to reach the earth. It covers this long distance in just about 8.5 minutes. Enough proton hits the earth every hour to create solar energy, which can potentially power up the entire globe for a whole year.
Although only around 629 GW of solar power has been installed across the world, the dropping costs and improving solar technology have resulted in a steady growth in demand for solar energy. There is enough evidence today to suggest that solar is indeed becoming the fastest source of power in the world. This is perhaps the first time in modern history where a renewable source of energy has surpassed traditional sources like fuels with regard to growth.
How Solar Panels Generate Energy?
You cannot talk about solar energy and not mention the key technology used to create it. A solar panel is typically an assembly of photovoltaic cells that are mounted in a framework for installation. Solar panels harness sunlight to produce direct current (DC) electricity. When photons released by the sun hit the solar cells, they knock the electrons loose from their cells. An electric circuit is created if conductors are attached to both the positive and negative sides of the cell.
When electrons flow through this circuit, electricity is generated. A typical solar panel is made up of several cells. A solar array is usually constructed by mounting up multiple solar panels together. The more panels you install, the more energy you can expect to produce.
How Does a Solar Panel System Work?
Now that you understand how solar energy and panels work, allow us to explain how a home or commercial solar energy installation works.
- Sunlight will first hit the solar panel, which is usually installed on the roof.
- The panel converts the impacting sunlight into DC current, which will flow to a solar inverter.
- The solar inverter will convert the generated DC current to AC, which will now power up your residential or commercial building.
It’s that simple! Over time, the process of generating solar energy is becoming more simple, clean, and affordable. However, you may still have some questions regarding its efficiency, especially when you consider that not every day is sunny in a year.
Can Weather Affect Solar Energy Production?
To put it simply, yes, weather conditions can affect the amount of energy a solar system produces. However, the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Yes, you do need a clear sunny day to produce solar energy but similar to most electronics, solar panels are known to be more efficient when the weather is cold than when it is actually warmer. Rising temperatures can result in panels producing less voltage, which means less electricity.
The most important factor still remains the presence of clouds in the sky. Regardless of whether the day is warm or cold, solar panels need clear cloudless skies to generate electricity. This is also why some regions of the world will benefit more from solar energy than others. For instance, India because of its mainly tropical climate is ideal for the efficient production of solar energy.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, understanding how solar energy works isn’t difficult. It will, after all, possibly become the primary source of energy powering the world in the near future. With the climate crisis looming large, it is up to us now to quickly make the jump to this renewable and sustainable source of energy to save our planet for future generations.
Oriana being one of the most prominent solar panel dealers in India, can help you make that shift with end-to-end solar energy services. We are home to top-quality solar energy products that will help you generate copious amounts of energy for decades to come.
You can get in touch with us now to know how our services can help your commercial or residential premise with the installation of a robust solar power system.
