For many, the concept of being able to harness the sun and produce energy that can power their home, business or car is a mysterious phenomenon. Unleashing the power of the sun in a few simple steps can not only save you thousands of dollars in utility bills, it can also help create a more sustainable world by reducing our carbon footprint. This is how solar panels work to produce energy:

1. Solar panel technology

Solar panels work to convert sunlight into electricity that your home can use, lowering your electricity bills. The panels come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and use a variety of solar cell technology. The best panels work harder maximizing every drop of solar energy available throughout the day. The best solar panels on the market can produce 70% more energy than smaller solar panels over the course of 25 years *. Studies have shown that a solid copper base adds strength to panels, and ultra-pure silicon provides optimal solar energy conversion. In fact, the world efficiency record of 24.2% provides 44% more energy per square foot of solar panels, meaning they work to produce significantly more solar energy than panels made from other materials. It is also imperative that your panels are designed and tested to withstand the harshest conditions in the world, including changes in temperature, high winds, humidity, hail and more. If the design or quality of the solar panel is inferior, it could mean that it will produce significantly less solar energy. A well-certified system has been proven to produce solar energy for more than 40 years.

2. Installation of solar panels

Once you select the highest quality solar panel technology, the location of the solar panels is key to generating solar power. Some of the most popular locations for panel installation are the roof of your home or business, surrounding areas on the ground, or a sun canopy. Your solar company will enter the dimensions of your home into a Computer Aided Design (CAD) program to help you assemble a permit shipping package. Once the solar company has determined which location will generate the most solar energy and the number of panels to install, a typical solar system installation only takes a couple of days.

3. System monitoring

Once your system is installed, it will immediately start producing solar energy that can be used to power your lights, computers, machinery, and any other electrical device for your home or business. A utility meter tracks your energy use and counts both ways. You will earn credits for solar energy produced but not used because it is returned to the electrical grid. The utility grid still provides you with electricity at night, when it’s not producing enough solar power, but credits earned during the day cover that cost. Remember, the amount of solar energy you are producing can change throughout the year depending on where you live and the amount of sunlight your panels receive on a daily basis. To check how much solar energy your panels are producing, you can use your online monitoring system to track production. If you notice a significant variation, notify your solar company to make sure everything is working properly.

* https://us.sunpower.com/solar-panels-technology/facts/