How Our Solar Panels Work

How Solar Works

The sun has produced energy for billions of years. It is a natural nuclear reactor. Put simply, the sun releases bits of energy called photons, which travel 93 million miles from the sun to Earth in about 8.5 minutes. Enough photons are released and impact our planet to generate solar energy for homes, industries, and businesses.

1.

The sun’s rays (photons) hit the solar panels on the roof of your house and produce an electric current (DC). The solar cells then collect this renewable energy source.

2.

The electric current in the SunPower panels flows to the inverter which converts that DC electricity into AC, the most common form of electricity.

3.

Once the energy has been converted, it supplies energy to your home.

4.

Unused energy flows back into the grid for your area and your home collects "credits".

how solar works infographic

Why Use Solar?

As solar technology rapidly improves and the cost of installing solar energy systems in residential settings drops, the United States will see a rise in harnessing the sun’s abundance of energy. In fact, a 2017 report from the International Energy Agency shows that solar has become the world’s fastest-growing source of power – marking the first time that solar energy’s growth has surpassed that of all other fuels. Here are a few other benefits of using solar on your home.

  • Cost Savings – Along with federal and state tax credits, SunPower by BlueSel panels are 30% more efficient. Our panels also last 30% longer than our competitors’. Our customers find that the panels greatly reduce, if not completely eliminate, their monthly electric expense.
  • Environmentally Friendly – Solar energy is a renewable and clean energy source that is in abundant supply. Not only does using solar energy reduce our dependence on fuels like coal and natural gas, it also potentially slows global climate change and reduces our overall carbon footprint.
  • Reliability – After years of studies, there are plenty of good seasonal projections of the amount of sunlight days a given area will see over the course of a year, even taking into account cloudy days and storms. In addition, solar energy is fairly consistent in cost savings. While homeowners dependent on electric and natural gas utilities often wonder each winter what their bills will be, homes that have solar panels understand the benefits of having a reliable and consistent energy source: the sun.
  • Low Maintenance – Solar panels have no moving parts, which means that they require no annual maintenance. Solar energy systems last for decades, making them a worthwhile investment.