Technology

How Does Solar Technology Work?

In recent years, many homeowners have sought ways to live greener lifestyles. Some people make routine choices that make their lives more environmentally friendly, such as recycling. Others search for a more significant way to utilize green ohio energy.

For most people, solar power is the gold standard for green energy. More people became more interested in this solution as solar panels became more efficient and affordable in the 2010s.

However, many people wonder how efficient solar technology is. Why should they switch to solar instead of keeping a system they trust?

If that describes you, don’t worry! In this guide, we’ll explore how solar energy works. Let’s get started, shall we?

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Solar Energy: What Is It?

People use the term solar energy frequently, but what does it mean? Solar energy comes from solar radiation.

Solar radiation is light emitted from the sun. Every location on Earth receives this light in some capacity, but some receive more light than others.

Solar technology captures this solar energy and converts it into usable energy. Two primary types of solar energy technologies exist: photovoltaics and concentrating solar-thermal power.

Solar panels utilize photovoltaic (PV) energy most often. We’ll discuss how PV works in the following section.

How Solar Technology Uses Photovoltaics

Solar panels most often use photovoltaics as their source of solar energy. When the sunlight contacts a solar panel, the panel absorbs energy from that light using its PV cells.

From there, the panel uses the energy to create electrical charges. These charges move in reaction to an internal electric field in the cell.

The result of this process is that electricity begins to flow. You can then use this electricity to power your home, rather than relying on the local power plant.

Soft Costs of Solar Panel Systems

Most people understand that the cost of solar panels consists mostly of hardware prices. However, several other costs also affect solar energy.

Some of these costs include acquiring permits for the home add-on. This process usually costs a few hundred dollars.

Other costs include taking out loans to finance the solar panels. Finally, solar power systems include installation costs.

Installation costs may vary from company to company. As such, spend some time researching what companies best fit your budget.

For an idea of what a cost-effective solar panel system would look like, check out Blue Raven and its products. They have locations throughout the country, making them a good test subject for installation costs.