How Solar Power Works



Have you thought about solar power and wondered how it works?


Solar rays are collected in two different ways.
One uses heat rays and the other uses light rays.



Here's how they work








Wonder How Solar Power Works? There are a couple of ways.

How flat plate collectors work



The simplest form of solar energy collection is the Flat Plate Collector a long flat rectangle that is mounted in a sunny area.



Dark metal plates within the collector absorb and hold the heat. Coils of tubing are looped throughout the collector next to the metal plates with air, water or an anitfreeze solution circulating within them.

The heat is transferred into the coils and thus the fluid/air as it circulates through the tubing.The air or fluid is either used immediately (as hot water or to heat a room, pool, etc.) or it is transferred to a well insulated holding tank for later use.

These systems are capable of reaching temperatures 82 degrees celsius (180F) ideal for heating water or a space.



How photovoltaic solar panels work




A photovoltaic (photo = light, voltaic = electricity) panel is formed by sandwiching thin layers of positive and negative silicon beneath a layer of non-reflective glass. Silicon is a semi conductive substance that is able to alter the sun's energy into a useable form.



How Solar Power Works * Portable Solar Power System



The simplest use of a photovoltaic system is a panel that directly powers an object that is wired to it.







An item, we'll say it's a 12V fountain pump, is being run directly from a solar panel which is wired to it. The solar panel is it's only source of energy.

The pump will function at it's optimum level spraying water upward as the sun shines brightly on the panel.

If a large cloud passes over, the sunlight striking the panel is limited and the pump will run more slowly, the height of water spray will noticeably drop. As the cloud passes and the sunlight once again strikes the solar panel the pump will speed up accordingly.

When the sun sets and no light is hitting the panel the pump will stop completely only to resume when the sun rises the next day.

Cell phones, GPS, cameras, etc. can be recharged with this type of very portable system.


The reason that we used a 12V pump (the kind that plugs into a cigarette lighter) in the example is because the solar panel makes 12V power.


To power household appliances the energy has to be changed to the type of power most households use (or 110V).

That's where an inverter comes in. Inverters change 12V power to 110V power. Once the energy has been converted to 110V it's ready for home use.





How Solar Power Works * Home Solar Systems



Home Solar Power Systems require electricity 24 hours a day. In order for a solar energy system to provide that the panels must be tied to a utility grid or a battery bank.


  • A utility grid


    provides power to your home during night hours and cloudy days when your panels don't keep up with demand.

    Also, when your system is humming along making more power than your household needs the power company buys the energy from you and sells it to your neighbors. Instead of moving into your household it moves into the grid.
    More about Grid Tied systems



  • A battery bank


    • stores excess energy for powering your household at night and on cloudy days or weeks. Lead Acid Batteries

    The addition of batteries is what makes a solar power system completely independent. The system is now capable of making energy and storing it for use later so that power is available to the home at night and on cloudy days.

    That's How Solar Power Works when the sun isn't shining.

    More about Independent systems.



Research is ongoing and new developments are constantly emerging. Our Solar News section reports on the latest solar discoveries.



If you want the technical stuff here's a website that provides an good in-depth description of
How Solar Power Works.




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