How Does Solar Energy Work?

Solar energy, solar electricity, renewable energy, green energy, solar radiation – these are terms we hear being used more and more everyday. But what do they mean and how are they impacting our lives?

Light = Electromagnetic Radiation = Solar Radiation – this is emitted by the sun.

Solar technologies capture the radiation from the sun and turn it into useful forms of energy. All of the earth’s surface receives some sunlight over a year. Although the amount of sunlight varies in each region, an hour and half of sunlight that strikes the earth’s surface is enough to handle the world’s energy consumption for a full year.

What are Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems?

Electric systems or Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems work by converting sunlight into a direct current. Solar Photovoltaic cells capture sunlight energy and by using a solar inverter this current is turned into usable electricity. Ireland and many parts of central Europe have the same annual irradiation levels, making the photovoltaic panels the most efficient solar panels. PV systems are used to power everything in your home, from lights and appliances to an electric vehicle.

How Does PV Work?

The graphic below explains how solar electricity is produced, where the energy flows, and with battery storage.

Solar PV with battery Storage
Solar PV with battery Storage

Individual photovoltaic (PV) cells, also known as solar cells, are embedded onto panels. Sunlight striking the panels is chemically converted into direct current (DC) electricity.

The DC electricity goes to an inverter that transforms it into alternating current (AC) for household use.

When your solar panels generate electricity that you don’t need to use straight away, a battery will convert this DC electricity into AC power and store it, ready for use later. Essentially, your solar panels charge the battery when you don’t need to use the energy they’re producing.

Clean Energy Solar Photovoltaic Product Range

The Clean Energy Solar photovoltaic range of products offer our customers an environmentally friendly means of producing your own electricity. This provides long term energy savings, reduces carbon emissions and makes us less dependent on imported energy. See your property’s energy rating climb with the introduction of solar photovoltaic.

Clean Energy Solar offers solar PV panels that are manufactured to the highest quality and have been officially recognised as a tier 1 PV Panel. Available in polycrystalline or monocrystalline in either silver frame or black frame. Each PV module is tested to IEC standards and outperforms these tests.

  • Thermal Cycling Test: 4 times higher than IEC standard
  • Damp Heat Test: 3 times higher than IEC standard
  • Humidity- Freeze Test: 3 times higher than IEC standard
  • UV Exposure Test: 6 times higher than IEC standard
25 years production warranty
25 years production warranty

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