How does solar energy work?

The water is heated by heat energy from the Sun and returns to the tank. In some systems, a conventional boiler may be used to increase the temperature of the water. Solar energy is a renewable energy resource and there are no fuel costs. No harmful polluting gases are produced. Solar cells do not work at night.

Do solar panels generate electricity at night?

Solar panels generate no electricity at night time. Solar panels can't store energy, so you have to use the electricity they generate when the sun is shining. You need batteries to store the energy generated. These are expensive. – Solar cells convert the light from the sun into electricity.

How do solar panels generate electricity?

When sunlight hits layers of silicon inside solar cells, an electric charge builds up, creating a flow of electricity. Because solar panels rely on sunlight, they only generate electricity during the daytime when sunlight is shining on them. If it is cloudy, they are less effective and if it is night time, they do not generate any electricity.

Does solar power use a turbine?

Unlike other energy sources, generating electricity from solar power does not use turbines. Solar cells transfer light energy from the Sun into electrical energy directly. When sunlight hits layers of silicon inside solar cells, an electric charge builds up, creating a flow of electricity.

What is solar energy used for?

Solar energy is used to generate electricity and to produce hot water. Solar energy is energy released by Solar cells are devices that convert light energy directly into electrical energy. You may have seen small solar cells in calculators.

How do solar farms work?

Solar farms are large areas of land that can be covered with thousands of solar panels that generate lots of electricity. Some solar farms have fixed solar panels that always face the same direction. Some have moving panels that turn so that they always directly face the Sun. This helps them generate as much electricity as possible.