How a photovoltaic solar system works
The generated electricity (
) can be used directly or can be fed into an inverter (
). The inverter converts the generated solar power (direct current) into alternate current which can then be fed into the public grid via a supply meter (
). In Germany for example, the owner of a PV system is then compensated with a fixed tariff (regulated by the Law on Renewable Energies) for the fed-in energy by the utility company.
A solar electricity system thus works like a small power plant, feeding the generated solar electricity into the public grid, while the energy supply of a house is assured by the public grid and measured with a demand meter (
).
Photovoltaics
The suns irradiation can be collected and transformed into electricity without having by-products such as carbon dioxide. For its transformation the photovoltaic effect is utilized.
Sunlight is wave and particles at once. The “light particles” are called photons. The photons hit a conductor or semi-conductor (the photovoltaic cell or module respectively). These electrons cause a charge separation and an electrical voltage drop occurs, electricity is flowing and is collected by the front and backside contacts.