Solar cells are made of thin layers of silicon which allow them to absorb light. When sunlight strikes the cells, chemical reactions release electrons, generating electric current. Individual cells are grouped together to form solar modules, which as a component of a complete solar system, to take advantage of the free energy landing there every day. Photovoltaic systems can either be standalone or grid connected. In a grid-connected system, the PV cells produce power in parallel with the electrical utility (i.e. your local power company), which uses a utility grid to connect and distribute power to its users.

After installation, solar modules have no moving parts, require little maintenance and are designed to last for many years. They use the “photovoltaic effect”, discovered by Edmund Becquerel in 1839, to produce electricity directly from sunlight. solar modules work best in direct sunshine, but they also work well even on cloudy days.

Next, an inverter converts the DC current from the solar modules to AC current for use throughout your home. Your solar system is connected to the utility grid through a standard utility meter that tracks your net power use while taking into account the electricity production from your solar system.

During sunny days when your solar system generates more power than your home needs, your electric meter actually reverses direction and spins backwards as you lend that energy to the utility grid. When the sun goes down, you effectively retrieve that energy when you need it. This process is called net metering. In this way, apart from reducing your utility electricity bill, homeowners can also sell any surplus electricity directly back to the utility at an attractive rate.

Solar modules are also used for commercial applications ranging from large-scale power plants to small family-run businesses.