How solar panels work: a beginner's guide

1. Panels turn sunlight into electricity

Each solar panel is made of silicon cells. When sunlight falls on them, it knocks electrons loose and creates a flow of direct current (DC) electricity. More sunlight means more current, which is why orientation, tilt and shade matter so much.

2. The inverter makes it usable

Your home runs on alternating current (AC). The inverter converts the panels' DC into AC at the right voltage and frequency, and keeps the system in sync with the grid.

3. Your home uses solar first

Power from the inverter flows to your distribution board. Appliances running at that moment use solar power first. If they need more than the panels are producing, the shortfall comes from the grid automatically.

4. Extra units go to the grid

When your panels produce more than you are using, the surplus is exported to the grid through a bi-directional net meter. Those units are adjusted against what you import, so your bill reflects only the net units. Read how net metering works in Gujarat.

5. At night and in outages

Panels don't generate at night, so you draw from the grid as usual. A standard on-grid system also switches off during a power cut for the safety of line workers. If you need power during outages, a hybrid system with batteries is the answer.

What affects how much you generate

• Shade: even partial shade from a tank or tree can reduce output.
• Dust: regular cleaning keeps generation high in Gujarat's dry months.
• Direction and tilt: south-facing at a suitable tilt works best.
• Component quality: tier-1 panels and inverters lose less over time.

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