How Do Solar Power Plant Work?

Solar panels are active solar devices that convert sunlight into electricity. A solar panel works by allowing photons, or particles of light, to knock electrons free from atoms, generating a flow of electricity. Solar panels comprise several small units called photovoltaic cells. These cells linked together make up a solar panel.

A typical roof-top solar plant comprises solar panels, solar inverters, and mounting structures, and batteries, if needed. As light hits the solar panels, the solar radiation is converted into direct current (DC). The direct current flows from the panels and is converted by the solar inverter into alternating current (AC) used by local electric utilities. The plant can be connected to the grid or can be designed to be off-grid.