A solar PV panel consists of a number photovoltaic cells – normally made from layers of semi-conducting material, most commonly silicon. When light shines on this material, a flow of electricity is created.

The cells don’t need direct sunlight to work and will even provide electricity on cloudy days. However, the stronger the sunshine, the more electricity is generated.

The solar panels convert this sunlight into direct current (DC) energy which travels into the house to an inverter, which then converts it to alternating current (AC) energy. This AC current then flows through the home’s electrical consumer unit to power any appliances with electricity.

As solar panels cannot produce electricity at night your system will automatically revert to getting power from the National Grid when your panels cannot produce sufficient electricity. Systems can also incorporate batteries designed to store surplus energy for later use.