Solar power has seen remarkable advancements and adoption in recent years, due to its ability to provide a clean, renewable source of energy.

Illuminate your home with the power of the sun! Our How Solar Works Video guide takes you through the basics of solar energy, making renewable energy easy to understand.

There are different configurations of solar systems that are continually adapting to the changing practices of utility companies. Here, in our “How Solar Works Video” guide, we delve into the basic operational principle of solar panel systems and how they interact with the utility grid and your home.

Solar panels can be installed on the roof or the ground, depending on the homeowner’s preference and space availability. These panels harness the energy from the sun and convert it into electricity. As the sun shines, the solar system begins to generate power. The house, in real-time, will consume the electricity it needs directly from this solar system.

In scenarios where the solar system produces more electricity than the home needs, the excess energy will be sent out to the utility grid. There’s typically an arrangement between the utility company and the homeowner for this excess energy. Most utilities offer a one-for-one credit, effectively granting you a credit of the same value for every unit of energy you export to them. Alternatively, they might choose to buy the energy at avoided costs, which means they pay you what it would have cost them to generate that energy.

There’s typically an arrangement between the utility company and the homeowner for this excess energy.

Solar energy generation stops as the sun sets. At this point, you begin to get your energy from the grid just as you would have in the pre-solar days. If there’s a credit balance from your daytime solar surplus, you’d exhaust this before you start buying power from the utility company.

The advent of storage batteries has added another layer to the way solar systems work. These batteries act as intermediaries between the home and the utility grid. Excess energy from your solar system charges the batteries first. Only when the batteries are full, and your home’s energy needs are met, does the extra energy get sent to the utility grid. This process varies, depending on your utility company and other considerations.

In conclusion, our ‘How Solar Works Video’ guide should provide you with a fundamental understanding of the solar power system’s operation. This renewable source of energy is not just beneficial for the environment, but it can also lead to significant savings on your energy bills.