Do solar panels work at night? This is one of the questions that I get asked quite often. The answer is a big no, they do not. However, solar energy saving devices are designed to work in the dark and on cloudy days when the sun does not shine as bright.
Solar panels do not work at all at night, not even with a helping device from a solar energy saving unit. However, if you decide to rely on solar pv for your house energy saving uses, it is important to know how solar pv works at night so you can be assured that it could save you money during those dark days. Let us first look at the answer to the ‘do solar panels work at night?’ question.
There are three answers to this question. First, solar energy storage devices work on collecting sunlight and then storing it for later use. Second, sunlight could be captured through photo voltaic cells and used as electricity. Third, you could just leave your windows open during daytime hours and expect to receive enough sunlight to power up your home appliances. However, those three options have their own limitations and drawbacks.
In order to understand do solar panels work at night, you must first understand how solar energy saving systems actually work at all. During the day, sunlight is collected by the solar pv panels and converted into electricity. Once the electricity is created, the household is charged and the excess electricity is sent to the local utility grid. However, in some states, you can sell any excess electricity produced by the solar panel system back to the utility company for a profit, thus creating a secondary income stream.
The process works like this: during the day, solar energy panels accumulate surplus electricity produced by the system and in turn, are plugged into the utility grid. At nightfall, the panels are turned off and the excess electricity produced is routed back into the utility grid. In return for the electricity, the utility company pays you a monthly bill. By utilizing solar energy saving systems in combination with net metering, which allows households to both save money and generate electricity from the sun’s energy, you may be able to significantly reduce or even eliminate your residential electric bill. Net metering allows the household to utilize the excess electricity produced by the solar energy panels without having to purchase additional storage devices.
Installing solar energy panels has a number of positive environmental benefits. Not only can solar energy saving systems help lower your utility bills but also help to reduce carbon emissions. By using energy efficient appliances, solar energy system owners can also help reduce their carbon footprint. Not only will solar energy panels reduce or even eliminate your monthly utility bills, but also reduce your personal impact on the environment.
Another benefit to using a solar panel system is that by saving energy at night you can take advantage of this free source of electricity during times when the sun is not as bright. Many homes use a backup power system in the event that the solar energy system fails to produce energy during daytime hours. The backup system typically uses natural gas or propane and the utilities then provide uninterrupted service. If your home depends upon electricity, then you need to seriously consider installing solar panels during those cloudy days just to save yourself a few bucks.
Solar energy savings are not only good for your bank account but also for the environment. Not only are solar energy panels a green solution to your energy needs, they are also a great investment. If installed correctly, you will be able to recover your initial investment quickly which will give you the added financial security that many homeowners need. Contact a local solar installer today to start enjoying the energy savings that solar energy systems offer.
