How does it work?

Photovoltaic devices, generally called solar cells, consist of two or more thin layers of semi-conducting material, usually silicon.

The layers are given opposite charges; one positive, one negative. When sunlight strikes the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose and move toward the treated front surface of the solar cell. This creates an electron imbalance between the front and back of the cell and creates a direct current (DC) which is converted to AC current and then fed back into the house’s electrical network.

PV cells are typically encapsulated between sheets of glass in a solar panel. The panels are then connected together to form a solar array.

The amount of energy generated by the solar array will vary according to the level of sunlight and time of year. In the summer months the system will typically generate five times the power generated during winter.

Historically the use of solar cells has been limited due to expensive manufacturing costs and relatively low solar cell efficiency. More recently, advances in research and scale of production have both reduced costs and increased efficiences.