Have you ever looked up at a roof covered in solar panels and wondered how exactly they turn sunlight into electricity? You're not alone. At Alpha Solar, we speak with homeowners and business owners across London who are curious about going solar but don’t fully understand how the technology works.
This blog is your no-nonsense, beginner-friendly guide to how solar panels work – and why they’re a smart choice for your home or business in London.
☀️ Step 1: Sunlight Hits the Panels
Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells, usually made from silicon. When sunlight hits these cells, it generates a flow of electricity. Even on cloudy days in London, solar panels can still absorb light – they don’t need direct sunlight to work!
⚡ Step 2: DC Power Is Created
The electricity generated by the panels is direct current (DC) power. But here’s the thing: your home or business runs on alternating current (AC) power – which means we need to convert it.
🔁 Step 3: The Inverter Converts DC to AC
This is where the inverter comes in. It takes the DC electricity from the panels and converts it into usable AC electricity for your lights, appliances, and gadgets.
At Alpha Solar, we only install high-efficiency inverters, ensuring your system runs smoothly and reliably from day one.
🔌 Step 4: Powering Your Property
Once the electricity has been converted, it powers your home or business just like energy from the grid. If your panels produce more power than you use, the extra energy doesn’t go to waste…
🔄 Step 5: Excess Energy Goes Back to the Grid (or to a Battery)
If you don’t have a battery storage system, any extra power you generate gets sent back to the National Grid. In many cases, you can get paid for that power through schemes like the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).
With a battery, you can store excess electricity to use later – like in the evenings when the sun’s gone down.
🔍 Bonus: Smart Monitoring
Most modern solar systems come with an app or dashboard where you can monitor your energy generation, usage, and savings in real time. At Alpha Solar, we walk all our customers through this during installation so you’re confident and in control.
✅ Why It Matters for You in London
Lower energy bills (especially with rising UK prices)
Reduce your carbon footprint
Increase your property’s value
Get paid for excess electricity
Thinking About Going Solar?
If you're in London and considering solar panels, the team at Alpha Solar is here to help – no jargon, no pushy sales, just honest advice from local experts.
📞 Book a free consultation today and see how much you could save with solar.
