Solar Energy: How Does it Work?

With energy bills rising and the push towards green living growing stronger, more people are looking at solar energy and wondering how it works. Solar energy has quickly become one of the most popular renewable energy sources in the UK, helping households and businesses alike cut costs and reduce their carbon footprint.

But despite its popularity, many people still wonder how sunlight can be turned into electricity that powers everything from your fridge to your electric car. In this guide, we’ll break down how solar energy works and how you can use it.

How Solar Panels Create Energy

At the centre of solar energy systems are solar panels, which convert sunlight into electricity. These panels are typically made of something called photovoltaic, or PV, cells, usually composed of silicon. When sunlight hits these cells, they create an electric current to be used to power your home or business.

Here’s a simplified breakdown on how solar panels create energy:

• Catching daylight: Solar panels are placed to receive as much daylight as possible, not just direct sunlight, but also ambient light or overcast days.
• Triggering electricity: The panels internal materials react to that light and cause tiny particles to move. That movement is electricity.
• Making it usable: That electricity that has been created is what’s known as a direct current (DC), however, your home appliances run on alternating current (AC). The inverter within the system changes DC into AC so that everything from your kettle to your TV can use it.
• What you do with it: Once converted, the electricity is either used immediately, stored in a battery for later use, or fed back into the grid if there is excess.

That’s the real-life version of what solar panels are doing behind the scenes. Capturing light, creating current, converting it, and delivering usable power.

What are Solar Panels Made Of?

Solar Panels only work as well as the materials they’re made from, by understanding the materials in your solar panels, you can gain insight into their performance and longevity. Most solar panels are constructed from:

• Silicone cells: This is the primary material that captures sunlight and converts it into electricity.
• Glass: To protect the silicone cells and allows sunlight to pass through.
• Metal frame: Provides structural support and facilitates mounting.
• Back sheet: This is the bottom layer that is used to insulate and protect the panel’s components.
• Junction box: Contains the electrical connections and diodes.

These components work together to ensure that solar panels are durable, efficient, and capable of withstanding various weather conditions. At East Yorkshire Solar we use top quality materials in our solar panels to make the most out of your investment.

Do Solar Panels Work in Winter and on Cloudy Days?

A common misconception is that solar panels are ineffective during the colder, darker months. In reality, solar panels can still produce electricity, even when the sun is covered up.

• Cloudy days: You don’t need perfect sunshine for your panels to work efficiently. Even under cloud cover, solar panels still generate electricity, albeit at a reduced rate compared to a bright sunny day. The degree of reduction depends on how thick the clouds are, how well the panels are oriented, and how many panels you have. Read our helpful guide on answering the question, do solar panels work on cloudy days? To find out more.
• Cooler temperatures: High heat can actually reduce the performance of solar cells. That means panels often do better on bright, cooler days compared to hot ones.
• Winter months: Yes, daylight hours are shorter, and the sun is lower in the sky, meaning you’ll get less total energy in summer. But it’s not zero. Modern systems, especially those paired with battery storage, help you get through darker periods.

So, even in Yorkshire’s less sunny periods, a well-designed system can deliver value and usable power.

Making the Most of Your Solar Systems Performance

To ensure your solar system operates efficiently throughout the year, consider the following tips:

• Regular maintenance: Keep your panels clean and free from debris. Regular maintenance ensures that your system operates at peak efficiency.
• Battery storage: Installing a solar battery allows you to store excess energy generated during sunny periods for use during cloudy days or on an evening.
• System monitoring: Utilising a monitoring system, you can track your energy production and consumption to help identify any issues as soon as possible. Where required, we can also use advanced infrared technology to create a thermal map and find hidden issues in your solar panels. If you’re interested in a more in-depth assessment, we can also provide thermal mapping images to highlight the yield and power levels of your solar panels.
• Optimise orientation and tilt: When designing your panels, we ensure that they face the best direction and are angled correctly, so that they boost the output of your system, especially in winter
• Keep everything clean and clear: Remove shade where possible, or position is a less shady spot, and clean off dirt and moss to make a noticeable difference in performance.

At East Yorkshire Solar, we offer comprehensive solar installation and maintenance to help you get the most out of your system year-round.

Why Choose East Yorkshire Solar

If you’re thinking about installing a solar system onto your property, choosing who installs it can make a big difference – not just in cost, but in reliability, performance, and peace of mind. Here’s why so many choose East Yorkshire Solar.

• Local expertise and experience: We aren’t a faceless national company, at East Yorkshire Solar, we live and work locally. Our team knows East Yorkshire’s weather, homes, roof styles, and planning regulations. Meaning your solar panels will be installed by people who understand what works here, not just what works everywhere else.
• Full service, start to finish: From your first enquiry to the finished installation and ongoing maintenance, we handle everything. We carry out a full site survey, design and quote the system, and make sure all the paperwork is taken care of.
• High quality, reliable equipment and guarantees: All our solar panels come with long warranties, and our workmanship is guaranteed. That means you’re protected if anything goes wrong, and you can rely on your system for many years to come.
• Clear, no-push quotes: We provide free, transparent estimates without the pressure, helping you decide what works best.
• Accredited credentials and customer support: We are MCS-accredited and ensure your system meets all safety, electrical, and building regulations. Plus, we offer monitoring tools so you can see how your panels are performing.

Final Thoughts

Solar energy isn’t a magic trick, its smart, practical technology wrapped into everyday practices. By understanding how solar energy works, how solar energy creates electricity, what solar panels are made of, and how to keep your system efficient even in gloomy weather, you can make confident decisions for your home or business.

If you’re considering going solar or want to optimise an existing system, we’re here to help. Explore our solar panel services, and contact us for a free quote. We’d love to hear from you and help create your own renewable energy.

Further Support   

We are here to help, so please do not hesitate to contact our solar panel experts today for further guidance and advice.   

Email: info@eastyorkshiresolar.co.uk Telephone: 01482 230 422