How Do Photovoltaic Solar Panels Work?

Posted in: Solar Power, Panels & Batteries
Solar Flow Team
January 29, 2023

In Truth, the Process Is Quite Easy

After being mounted on a roof, solar panels absorb sunlight and then convert it into usable electricity. In order to provide electricity for your home, that current must first pass through your personal inverter.

Explanation From a Scientific Perspective

Direct current is the type of electrical current produced when solar panels are used to convert sunlight (DC).

An inverter converts the DC(direct current) to alternating current (AC). The electricity that you use to do things like charge your phone and power your home’s lights and appliances is called alternating current (AC).

The inverter is hardwired into your metre box, and either supplies your home with power or feeds any excess energy back into the grid.

When a home’s solar energy system generates more electricity than a household needs, the surplus is fed back into the utility grid. Companies that sell electricity will pay you to provide this energy.

The current buyback rate for the South-Western Australian region, which includes Perth, is 10 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) between 3 pm and 9 pm and 2.5 cents a kWh around 3 pm or after 9 pm as part of a distributed power buyback scheme. Homeowners whose systems generate less than 5 kilowatts can take advantage of this.

Do Solar Panels Only Generate Power During the Day?

Yes! While the sun is out, though, your photovoltaic arrays can generate plenty of energy to keep you going all night long. Having a battery as part of your solar setup allows you to save any excess energy for usage at night. Customers who would rather store and utilise their surplus energy are driving up demand for battery solutions.

As soon as the sun sets down at night, the photovoltaics stop generating electricity. Electrical current in your home is now supplied by the public power grid (the usual way you can get electricity without solar). During times whenever the system is also not producing, electricity is billed at the predetermined rate (from the power company of your choice).

These Are the Two Fundamental Parts of Any Solar System

Solar Inverter

The inverter’s job is to take the direct current (DC) electricity produced by the panels and change it into the alternating current (AC) electricity used in homes. The solar inverter is the workhorse of your system, and as such, it will wear out sooner than the other components (typical lifespan: 10-15 years). To get the most purpose out of your solar inverter and solar system, we suggest going with a well-respected name brand.

While inverter sizes can go as high as 100 kilowatts, the typical Western Australian home requires a 3-kilowatt to 5-kilowatt setup. Multiple inverters are used inside a single system for large-scale commercial solar installations. There is no one “best” inverter because it is dependent on the needs of the consumer.

Solar Panels

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are another name for solar energy installations. This is the technical term describing the procedure by which solar panels convert sunlight into usable electricity.

As such, solar panels are the second most critical part of a solar energy system. The panels are made up of photovoltaic cells, which can generate electricity on their own.

UV cells (protons), mostly from the sun, strike the PV cell (inside the panels), charging the electrons and causing a flow that generates electricity. “Photovoltaic effect” describes this phenomenon.

Panels for converting sunlight into electricity are categorised by the amount of energy they can produce (in watts). In one hour of peak sunlight, the solar panel is rated for this amount of electricity output. Peak sunshine hours per day, on average, vary greatly across different regions. In Australia, the numbers are anywhere from Five in Melbourne to 9 in some parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Perth experiences anywhere from three to nine hours of daylight throughout the year. A 5 kW solar array should generate around 12.5 kW daily in June and around 32 kW daily in December. Solar panels convert sunshine into usable energy; however, on very sunny days, the system may be less effective and generate less power than usual.

Optimisation of Solar Panels

Solar homes’ efficiency and the amount of energy your panels may produce are affected by factors such as roof angle, orientation, and location. Panels work best when they are oriented square to the sun.

This means the solar panels are facing directly into the sun. To maximise performance and energy production, southern hemisphere countries such as Australia should have their roofs oriented towards the north.

Using a programme called Nearmaps, you can precisely determine the best placement of your solar panels, your rooftop orientation, and the angle of the roof in order to estimate the solar output capacity of the panels at your site.

Western Australia experiences peak sun production between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm.

Panels Facing North

The daily kilowatt-hour (kW) output from panels oriented towards the north is the highest. This is due to the fact that the roof & solar panels facing north receive the most sunlight during the course of the day when the sunlight is at its fullest and brightest. If you or your business has a significant power consumption need in the mid of the day, this is your best bet.

Panels That Face North or North-West

Due to the sun’s position in the sky, panels facing west produce the maximum energy in the late afternoon. This is the best option available because panels facing west may generate 5-12% less electricity than panels facing north. Panels oriented to the west let homes make better use of the sun’s rays in the late afternoon.

Panels Facing North and North-Eastern Directions

Both west- and east-facing panels will generate the same amount of energy. As the sun rises from the east, it will be easier for homes to make use of solar power first thing in the morning.

Dual Panels Facing Both West and East

A twelve per cent drop in output is possible for south and west-facing panels compared to north-facing panels. During most of the year, the east side can generate power all morning, while the west side can do the same in the afternoon because of the east/west split. This will aid in ensuring that an even distribution of panels is producing energy from dawn to dusk rather than having the majority of panels facing north throughout the course of the day.

Panels Facing South

Given Australia’s latitude, south-facing solar panels are less efficient than those facing other directions. South panels may provide the same amount of energy as north panels in the summer when the sun shines directly overhead.

However, the south-faced panels will likely provide minimal or no power beyond these months, including spring, autumn, and especially winter.

Reasons Why Rooftop Solar Panels Succeed in Australia

Solar energy technologies outperform traditional electricity generators in a number of important ways. Standardised dimensions for photovoltaic panels guarantee that the same components can be used across all project scales. This modular system can be scaled from individual homes to massive solar farms.

Electrical power can be produced by photovoltaic modules without the need for any moving components or mechanical wear and tear. They require nothing in the way of upkeep, and their lifespans can reach into the decades.

The financial success of solar technology, however, is highly variable and subject to many other influences. Before installing solar panels on a building, keep in mind the following:

The amount of accessible sunlight is a key factor in the generation of electricity. Both the local weather and nearby structures that produce shadows can reduce the amount of energy harvested from the sun.
When prices for electricity are expensive, solar panels become more cost-effective. At 20 cents/kWh, the value of one thousand kilowatt hours is $200, while at 35 cents/kWh, that same amount of energy is worth $350.
The economics of solar energy are affected by government subsidies and levies. Cash rebates and other incentives lower the upfront cost of solar energy systems and speed up their payback. However, the cost of solar power increases due to variables such as hefty import taxes.
Inexpensive solar energy is becoming more accessible thanks to PPAs and low financing rates. Loans for solar projects can be readily repaid out of the savings generated while interest rates are low. As an alternative to buying a solar power system, power purchase agreements (PPAs) are appealing because the customer just pays for the electricity they use. The savings from the PPA price of electricity are more substantial than those from the municipal tariffs.

Australia is a perfect location for solar power plants due to its good climate. Therefore, solar arrays are highly recommended purchases for both commercial and residential properties. There is an availability of solar PPA & financing alternatives; the country gets enough sunshine, power is costly, there are great solar incentives, and technology costs are low.

Capitalising on Australia’s Plentiful Sunshine

In certain areas of Australia, daily sunshine is comparable to much more than 6 kWh/m2. Contrast this with the paltry amount of sunlight that northern Europe receives. A solar PV system installed in Australia will, on average, provide twice as much energy as one installed in the United States.

Over 20% of the sun’s energy may be converted into power by the most effective solar panels.
It is estimated that a 330-watt module installed in Australia can generate over 500 kWh annually due to the country’s abundance of solar resources.

Australia is blessed with an annual sun radiation total of 58 million petajoules. This is equivalent to providing 10,000 times Australia’s annual energy needs. Since each kilowatt of added capacity generates more kilowatt-hours over time, solar power systems perform better economically in regions with abundant sunshine.

Away From Australia’s High Electricity Costs With Solar Power

The electricity rates in Australia are among the highest globally. Companies typically pay more than 20 cents/kWh for electricity, with some paying as much as 40 cents/kWh. When electricity rates are high, solar panels become more valuable since every extra kilowatt-hour they produce means less money spent on utility bills.

High kWh prices make solar energy more valuable, while plentiful sunshine improves its output. Your choice of power provider is an option in many areas of Australia. However, this doesn’t get rid of the cost of transmission and distribution, which, in many situations, accounts for more than half of the cost per kWh. However, if you switch to solar electricity, you can eliminate your per-kWh costs entirely.

Utilising Australia’s Solar Incentive Program

Certificates for renewable energy sources, including solar electricity, are on sale from the Clean Energy Regulator. Certificates for Small-Scale Technology (STC) can be claimed for installations up to 100 kW in size, while Large-Scale Generating Certificates (LGC) can be used for bigger systems (LGC).

Since the value of these certificates is determined by the amount of electricity generated by solar panels, larger installations receive greater compensation.
Additional STCs and LGCs are available for solar power installations in sunny locations.

Large energy consumers and merchants acquire either sort of certificate to satisfy their clean electricity requirements. The amount of STCs that can be paid out in advance is determined by the amount of power that can be expected to be generated by the solar photovoltaic system in 2030.

In contrast, LGCs are traded at set intervals according to the amount of electricity generated. In other words, STCs function similarly to a solar rebate, but LGCs are more akin to a performance-based bonus.

Certificates for renewable energy generation can be used in tandem with local incentive programmes offered by state governments. Tax breaks for installing solar panels, as well as low- or no-interest loan schemes, are among these advantages.

Low import duties and freight costs are also distinctive features of the Australian solar industry. Australia is a major solar market because of its proximity to China, where many solar components are manufactured.

FAQs About Solar Panels

How Long Is a Solar Panel Warranty?

What is a solar panel warranty? A solar panel has two warranties: a performance and equipment guarantee. A solar panel’s performance warranty will typically guarantee 90% production at 10 years and 80% at 25 years. An equipment warranty will typically guarantee 10-12 years without failing.

How Long Is a Typical Solar Panel Lifetime?

25 years. Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic or PV panels, are made to last more than 25 years. In fact, many solar panels installed as early as the 1980s are still working at expected capacity

What Happens to Solar Panels After 10 Years?

A panel with a degradation rate of 1% per year will be 10% less efficient after 10 years. In fact, 78% of systems tested had a degradation rate of less than 1% per year. That means that after 25 years of use, about 4 out of 5 solar panels still operate at 75% efficiency or better.

What Happens to a Solar Panel After 25 Years?

Most solar panel companies will provide a standard 25-year warranty for the expected life expectancy of the solar panels. After 25 years, your solar panels won’t necessarily need to be replaced; however, their ability to absorb sunlight will be reduced.

Are Solar Panels With Battery Worth It?

Solar batteries reduce your dependency on the National Grid electricity you use and enable you to store the energy that your solar panels generate. They also enable you to use the electricity that you’ve generated during cloudy days or even at nighttime; this can save you further costs on your energy bills.

Conclusion

An inverter, which is permanently installed in your metre box, can either provide electricity to your home or allow you to sell any excess power back to the power company. Any excess energy produced by your solar setup can be stored in a battery and used later. Currently, the buyback rate in South-Western Australia, which includes Perth, is 10 cents per kilowatt-hour between 3 and 9 p.m. At night, when there is no longer any sunlight, the photovoltaics stop producing energy. Your home is now connected to the national electrical grid, which supplies your household with electricity.

To put it simply, your solar inverter is your system’s workhorse and will fail before any of the other parts. A solar panel’s efficiency and output may drop on extremely sunny days. When panels are oriented perpendicular to the sun, they produce the most energy. You can pinpoint the optimal location of your solar panels for maximum efficiency by using a programme called Nearmaps. Solar panels that face west may produce 5-12% less energy than those that face east.

A home’s ability to benefit from the sun’s energy in the late afternoon is increased when panels are oriented to the west. Solar panels oriented south in Australia are less efficient than those oriented north due to the country’s geographic location. Government subsidies and levies impact the cost-effectiveness of solar power. Due to the high quality and quantity of Australia’s solar resources, a 330-watt module can produce more than 500 kWh annually once installed. Both businesses and homes can benefit greatly from installing solar panels.

Content Summary

In order to provide electricity for your home, that current must first pass through your personal inverter.
Direct current is the type of electrical current produced when solar panels are used to convert sunlight (DC).An inverter converts the DC(direct current) to alternating current (AC).
When a home’s solar energy system generates more electricity than a household needs, the surplus is fed back into the utility grid.
While the sun is out, though, your photovoltaic arrays can generate plenty of energy to keep you going all night long.
Having a battery as part of your solar setup allows you to save any excess energy for usage at night.
To get the most purpose out of your solar inverter and solar system, we suggest going with a well-respected name brand.
As such, solar panels are the second most critical part of a solar energy system.
Solar homes’ efficiency and the amount of energy your panels may produce are affected by factors such as roof angle, orientation, and location.
Panels work best when they are oriented square to the sun.
This means the solar panels are facing directly into the sun.
Using a programme called Nearmaps, you can precisely determine the best placement of your solar panels, your rooftop orientation, and the angle of the roof in order to estimate the solar output capacity of the panels at your site.
The daily kilowatt-hour (kW) output from panels oriented towards the north is the highest.
This is due to the fact that the roof & solar panels facing north receive the most sunlight during the course of the day when the sunlight is at its fullest and brightest.
Due to the sun’s position in the sky, panels facing west produce the maximum energy in the late afternoon.
This is the best option available because panels facing west may generate 5-12% less electricity than panels facing north.
Panels oriented to the west let homes make better use of the sun’s rays in the late afternoon.
Both west- and east-facing panels will generate the same amount of energy.
As the sun rises from the east, it will be easier for homes to make use of solar power first thing in the morning.
A twelve per cent drop in output is possible for south and west-facing panels compared to north-facing panels.
Given Australia’s latitude, south-facing solar panels are less efficient than those facing other directions.
South panels may provide the same amount of energy as north panels in the summer when the sun shines directly overhead.
Before installing solar panels on a building, keep in mind the following: The amount of accessible sunlight is a key factor in the generation of electricity.
High kWh prices make solar energy more valuable, while plentiful sunshine improves its output.
Your choice of power provider is an option in many areas of Australia.
However, if you switch to solar electricity, you can eliminate your per-kWh costs entirely.