Every day, the world economy comes closer and closer to having its operations abruptly stopped.
Don’t believe us?
Just take a look at statistics regarding fossil fuel depletion. In only a few short decades, much of the fossil fuels that are used to supply the world’s power requirements today will be all but used up.
Thankfully, there is a solution — renewable energy sources like solar panels. If you’re unfamiliar with the answer to the question, “how do solar panels work”, never fear. You’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll explain what are solar panels and how they work while also taking a look at the average cost of solar panel installation.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
Think of the sun as a giant ball of energy. As the sun shines, it radiates that energy on earth. The energy takes the form of both light and heat.
The form of energy that is translated into usable electricity by solar power is the light form. Light is made up of individual particles, known as photons. These photons are what are used in solar panels.
Solar panels are set up in such a way that when the photons strike the panel, they knock loose electrons from individual atoms that comprise the solar panel’s surface. The displacement of these electrons causes a flow of electrons through the panel.
The flow of electrons is what we affectionately call electricity. Thus, solar panels are able to convert the movement of photons into electron flow, which in turn can be stored as electrical energy.
The best part of solar panels is that once they are set up, they require very little input in order to function.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
Now you may be asking yourself the question, “if solar panels don’t require much input and work so easily, why doesn’t everyone use them in their homes?”
The answer to that lies in the cost of solar panel installation. For many people, the cost of a solar panel installation can cost up to $25,000. That is no sum of money to sneeze at.
However, what most people don’t realize is that you can claim a significant portion of that cost as a federal tax credit. This credit is applied directly to your tax liability, which in turn reduces the real cost that you realize by a significant amount.
If you’re thinking about installing solar panels at your home, then it’s time for you to hunt for a solar contractor. It’s a crowded market, so be sure to use these questions to guide your buying process to the best vendor possible. If you are looking for solar companies in Utah, Sunpower by Custom Energy is a local company worth looking into if you want an affordable option that does not skimp on quality.
Solar Energy Is the Future
So, how solar panels work? Now that you understand a bit about it and how much they cost, you should have a much better appreciation for this form of renewable energy. If the technology advances sufficiently, solar energy could well be the future of our planet’s power needs!
For more home improvement advice, check out the rest of the articles on the website!