Do Home Solar Energy Systems Really Work?

Solar power is trumpeted as a tremendously beneficial alternative energy source. So, do home solar energy systems really work or is it much ado about nothing?

To grasp how these systems work, you first have to realize the power of the sun. Without it, our planet would be one large ice ball. There would be no plants, no liquid oceans...no us. The amount of energy in sunlight is simply astounding. It is even estimated that the energy in a 24 hour period of sunlight could full fill our energy needs for an entire year if we could figure out some way to harness it. All this is great, but what about for a single home?

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The traditional home solar energy system is comprised of solar panels on a roof. These panels use silicone based cells to capture the energy in the sun. They are not particularly efficient, often converting as little as five percent of the energy of the sunlight that hits them. Regardless, the sunlight causes electrons to release from the substrate in the cells and this creates an electric charge. The charge is then transferred to a converter where it can be modified into a form of electricity called "DC" that can be used.

Now comes the magic that answers our question. There are two uses for the electricity at this point. The first is to store the energy directly into batteries much like what is done in a car. The batteries are obviously a lot larger. Regardless, the panels charge the batteries all day long and the people living in the home use it during the day and night as necessary. This system works so well that most people disconnect from the utility grid. This approach is known as going "off the grid". The system works well and the homeowner has no electric bills whatsoever.

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The second approach is to go "on grid". Instead of using batteries, the solar panel system feeds the electricity back into the utility grid. Many states have laws not only allowing this, but also forcing the utility company to buy the electricity that is coming in. This concept is known as "net metering". When electricity is being sent into the grid, the homeowners utility meter actually runs backwards. When the residents need power at night, the bill runs forward. At the end of the month, the bill is usually only a few dollars.

Do home solar energy systems really work? Absolutely. There are a number of new technologies coming online that are going to make things even better ranging from solar shingles for roofs to an actual solar nano particle that you will be able to paint onto your home like regular paint. These systems will produce much more power and solar will become the dominant way to generate power for your home.

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