Solar power works by converting energy from the sun into power. There are two forms of energy generated from the sun for our use – electricity and heat.
Both are generated through the use of solar panels, which range in size from residential rooftops to 'solar farms' stretching over acres of rural land.
Yes, solar power is a renewable and infinite energy source that creates no harmful greenhouse gas emissions– as long as the sun continues to shine, energy will be released.
Solar energy was used by humans as early as the 7th century B.C. when humans used sunlight to light fires by reflecting the sun's rays onto shiny objects. Later, in 3rd century B.C., the Greeks and Romans harnessed solar power with mirrors to light torches for religious ceremonies.
In 1839 and at the age of just 19, French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic (PV) effect while experimenting with a cell made of metal electrodes in a conducting solution. He noted that the cell produced more electricity when it was exposed to light – it was a photovoltaic cell.
This PV charge creates an electric current (specifically, direct current or DC), which is captured by the wiring in solar panels. This DC electricity is then converted to alternating current (AC) by an inverter. AC is the type of electrical current used when you plug appliances into normal wall sockets.
Following the closure of the feed-in tariff scheme to new solar PV system applicants in March 2019, the smart export guarantee (SEG) was introduced to provide financial support to small-scale renewable energy generators for the electricity they export to the grid.
Solar battery storage systems store excess energy from solar panels for later use. This allows you to use energy generated during the day when you need it most, like at night or on cloudy days.
