Skip to main content
Sunrun
  • Contact Us 833-394-3384
  • Get a Quote
  • Plans & Services
      • Overview
      • Monthly Solar Lease
      • Full Amount Solar Lease
      • Monthly Solar Loan
      • Purchase Solar System
  • Why Sunrun
      • Overview
      • Our Vision
      • Our Guarantee
      • Our Customers
      • Virtual Consultation
  • Solar Storage
      • Overview
      • Tesla Powerwall
      • LG Chem
  • Plans & Services
      • Overview
      • Monthly Solar Lease
      • Full Amount Solar Lease
      • Monthly Solar Loan
      • Purchase Solar System
  • Solar Storage
      • Overview
      • LG Chem
      • Tesla Powerwall
  • Why Sunrun
      • Overview
      • Our Vision
      • Our Guarantee
      • Our Customers
      • Virtual Consultation
  • Solar by state
  • Solar FAQs
  • Solar Education
  • Cost of solar
  • Contact us
  • Sign in
  • Get started
Go solar for as little as 0% down Get started.
Go solar for as little as 0% down Get started

How Do Solar Panels Produce Electricity?

How do solar panels produce electricity?

Solar energy is one of the most affordable, renewable energy sources available today. So how do solar panels actually generate electricity? Here’s the process demystified.

Basic Solar Components

To find out how solar panels work, you need to understand how they’re made. Many solar panels use silicon, one of the planet’s most common elements. But since creating silicon crystals of suitable quality is difficult and expensive, home solar systems are usually built from similar, but less expensive materials, such as copper, indium, gallium and selenide (CIGS).1 These aren’t as efficient as high-quality silicon, but still provide adequate power at a reasonable cost. 

During manufacturing, small amounts of other elements are introduced to alter the electrical properties of the silicon atoms. Strips of negative (n-type) silicon, which has an extra electron and positive (p-type) silicon that is missing one electron, are sandwiched together. The combination forms a photovoltaic cell. And when multiple photovoltaic cells are placed side by side under glass, they give us common solar panels.

Inside each solar panel is a conductive metal plate connected to wires that lead to a fused array combiner. Energy from the array is sent through an inverter, which transforms the initial direct electrical current into the alternating electrical current required to power human-made structures. 

CHOOSE AND CONTROL YOUR HOME ENERGY

Go solar for $0 down
See if you qualify

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Do you own your home?
What is your average monthly electric bill?
By clicking above, I authorize Sunrun to call me and send pre-recorded messages and text messages to me about Sunrun products and services at the telephone number I entered above, using an autodialer, even if I am on a national or state “Do Not Call” list. Message and data rates may apply. Maximum 10 texts per month. Consent for calls & texts is optional. You can opt out anytime. You also agree to our Terms of Service.

Thanks so much! We'll call you shortly.

Sorry, we are not taking new customers in your area yet

 

Refer a Friend. Get $1000

Stay up to date with Sunrun

Turning Solar Power Into Electricity

Visible sunlight is composed of invisible particles called photons. These have energy, but zero rest mass. When the photons collide with other particles their energy is converted to other forms depending on the kind of atoms they touch. Most collisions create only heat. 

But electricity can also be produced when the photons make electrons in the atoms so agitated that they break away and move about freely.2 The n-type silicon electrons seek out the ones in p-type silicon to replace their missing electrons and the flow between the two types produced. 

The remarkable  properties of semiconductors like silicon makes it possible to sustain the electrical imbalances. This means a steady supply of electricity as long as photons hit the solar panels. The current is collected by wires and carried throughout the system. 

4 Factors That Impact Solar Electricity Production

Households should consider four major factors, during and after the installation of their residential solar systems.

1. Shade. Shaded solar panels won’t produce the same amount of energy as those in direct sunlight.3 If your roof is sun-deprived by un-trimmable trees or building, solar may not be your best choice.

2. Seasonality. Like the weather, solar energy production varies day-by-day and month-to-month. A cloudy, winter day4 won’t be as productive as a sunny, summer one. But it’s important to focus on the year-round picture. For example, snow can sometimes reflect light and improve PV performance. So in reality, a cold month will only become a solar antagonist if slush covers the panels. 

3. Tilt. Unlike a pinball machine, solar panels can benefit from a good tilting. The direction your home is facing, its location,5 and even your roof’s pitch, have a significant effect on how well a residential solar system works. Ideally, solar panels should be at the same angle as the latitude where they’re mounted. Pitches between 30 degrees to 45 degrees usually work well in most scenarios. 

4. Azimuth. The solar azimuth angle6 is the compass direction from where the sunlight is coming. At noon, the sun’s light comes from the south in the Northern Hemisphere and from the north in the Southern Hemisphere. The  wrong azimuth angle could reduce the energy output of a solar home panel by up to 35%. An azimuth of zero (facing the equator) is usually the best choice. 

Do you have questions about how solar works? Our solar advisors are here to help you.

Sunrun

Oct 4, 2019

 

Sources:

1. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-does-solar-power-work/

2. http://www.physics.org/article-questions.asp?id=51

3. http://news.energysage.com/solar-panels-work-shade/

4. http://news.energysage.com/solar-panels-in-winter-weather-snow-affect-po...

5. https://www.energysage.com/solar/101/impact-of-roof-angle/

6. http://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/2-properties-sunlight/azimuth-angle

 

Recommended Articles

  • 5 Advantages of Solar Power

    5 Advantages of Solar Power

    How Residential Solar Can Bring Freedom and Choice to Households As the cost of ...

  • How Does Solar Power Work for Your Home?

    How Does Solar Power Work for Your Home?

    How does solar work? How does a home solar system work? Find out if your home qualifies for solar today. Switch to solar and save BIG.

  • Solar battery or generator? How to get through the next outage

    Solar battery or generator? How to get through the next outage

    How Batteries and Generators Stack up Blackouts are becoming more common across the...

  • What if my solar panels don't produce enough power?

    What if my solar panels don't produce enough power?

    If your panels don’t produce the amount of power we said it would, we’ll pay you the difference, easy as that. Sunrun, save with the sun.

Where's Sunrun

Sunrun has hundreds of thousands customers powering their homes with renewable energy each month. Locate solar services in your state.

Plans & Services

Find the best home solar plan within your budget today. You can go solar and save for little to $0 down with Sunrun.

Brightbox Battery Storage

Brightbox™ Battery makes storing and managing clean affordable solar energy simple and easy.

Solar Panels

Solar power is yours for the making. Sunrun creates home solar panel systems that optimize for efficiency, durability, service, and value.

Sunrun News

From solar news to smart home energy saving tips, learn how solar is helping thousands save on rising energy costs.

Solar Education

Learn how to go solar simply with Sunrun’s solar education center, including articles, videos & FAQs.

Cost of Solar

As electricity rates are rising the cost of solar panels have never been lower. Switch to home solar and save with Sunrun.

Utilities

Find out more on how to lower your electric bill, how to read your electric bill once you go solar, and which green initiatives your utility is focused on today.

  • Sunrun States:
  • AZ
  • CA
  • CO
  • CT
  • DC
  • FL
  • HI
  • IL
  • MA
  • MD
  • NV
  • NH
  • NJ
  • NM
  • NY
  • PA
  • PR
  • RI
  • SC
  • TX
  • UT
  • VT
  • WI
  • Leadership
  • Contact
  • Investors
  • Careers
  • Home Builders

Go solar for as little as 0% down

See if you Qualify
See if you Qualify
+ Chat Now
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube LinkedIn

©2021 Sunrun. All rights reserved.

  • State Contractor License Information
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
Sunrun Logo Solar-Savings // solar-plans-and-services plans-services money // contact us Sun phone handshake airplane Pin Brief Case solar-installation solar-warranty home-solar-blog why-sunrun2 Grid solar-reviews sunrun-glyph icon-home icon-people icon-medal icon-panel icon-recycling Contact-Us-Icon user icon icon-lightbulb brightbox-battery Newspaper icon-certificate icon-medal icon-meter double-carets icon-headset Lower CO2 Bridge Foam Finger Lightning Phone Call (blue) Phone Call Send (blue) Send User (blue) User facebook instagram twitter youtube linkedin