J.Boerman 9
“De installalatie keurig volgens offerte en tijdsplanning snel en vakkundig aangebracht.”
Net metering and the feed-in payment for solar panels
What is net metering? Why is the scheme being phased out and what will replace it?
Read moreHow do solar panels work?
The sun is an important source of clean energy, and solar panels turn it into electricity. That cuts your energy bill and does the environment good. But how exactly do solar panels work? In this blog adviser Hans explains.
Generating power with solar cells
A solar panel is made up of cells. In most systems those cells are made of silicon, a semiconductor. As soon as sunlight falls on them, electrons in the silicon are set loose and a voltage builds across the cell. When several cells are connected in series, current starts to flow, and that current is direct current.
The output of a panel is given in watts. Because the amount of sunlight changes from day to day, the maximum output of a panel is expressed in watt-peak (Wp).
How solar panels work: the inverter
The panels are connected to an inverter. This electronic device turns the direct current from the panels into alternating current at the right voltage. The meter cupboard then sends that power to every socket, so you can use it.
At Dijkman Zonne-energie we mostly work with the Enphase inverter system, in which every panel has its own inverter on the roof. That means you no longer need an inverter inside the house.
Read also: which inverter suits my situation
Feeding energy back to your supplier
During the day, while the panels are generating, you use your own solar energy. In the evening, when they generate nothing, you use energy from your supplier. The power you do not use during the day is fed back to the grid and set off against what you draw from your supplier, which is what net metering means.
Getting the best out of your panels
You naturally want your panels to produce as much as possible. So how do they work best? The orientation comes first: panels facing south on a roof at an angle of about 36 degrees give the highest yield. We would also advise checking them for dirt now and then.
Would you like to know more about enjoying the sun without a worry? These six tips get the most out of your solar panels.
Want to know more about how solar panels work?
Then request a consultation with Hans.
Hans is an adviser at Dijkman Zonne-energie and is happy to answer all your questions about solar panels.
More about solar panels
Solar panels on a flat roof
I have a flat roof, can I have solar panels too? Certainly. A flat roof even has a few advantages.
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How do solar panels work?
How do solar panels work? Our adviser Hans explains where solar energy comes from, what the inverter does and where panels work best.
Read more