A solar photovoltaic (PV) system turns sunlight directly into electricity. When light hits the silicon cells inside a solar panel, it knocks electrons loose, and that movement of electrons is an electrical current. It is a quiet, moving-part-free process that happens whenever the sun is up.
The inverter converts the panels’ direct-current electricity into alternating current for the building. Depending on the model and system design, it may also manage safety functions, monitoring, battery charging and the flow of power between the solar array, the building, the batteries and the grid.
At times, a solar system may produce more electricity than the site is using. Depending on the system design, local rules and the electricity supplier’s approval, that surplus may charge a battery, be exported to the grid or be limited by the system controls.
The amount of power a system makes varies with the sun: time of day, season, cloud cover, the direction your roof faces and any shading from trees or nearby buildings. This is why a proper site assessment always comes before a system recommendation — the right design depends on your specific property.
