How PV Works
Solar PV is a solar electric technology. It is not the same as solar thermal technology, which harnesses heat from the sun and is usually used to heat water. Solar PV generates electricity directly from daylight by using advanced semi-conductor technology.
Watch a Flash animation of How PV Works ( low-res )
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1. PV roof Daylight hits the PV and is converted to clean electricity, even on cloudy days. There are no moving parts so this happens silently. |
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2. Inverter The electricity generated by the roof is DC (direct current). An inverter makes it AC (alternating current), in sync with mains electricity so that it can be used normally. |
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3. Fuse box The solar electricity is fed into the mains via your fuse box, for safety. |
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4. Meters The PV roof generates electricity all day. Spare electricity automatically flows out to the grid and is sold back to your electricity supply company. As an option we can fit an extra electricity meter that measures how much you export. |
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5. At night At night, the PV does not produce any electricity. Instead, your mains power is automatically supplied from the grid. Extra power is always available from the grid at times of high demand. |
