Solar photovoltaic (also known as solar PV) systems convert energy from the sun into electricity. You can save money by harvesting this free energy. Solar PV systems can be relatively simple, with their main components being solar panels or modules. Read on to find out more about solar PV systems, including which type generates the most electricity, and how they're made. 

Solar PV systems are one of the most popular renewable energy technologies. They provide a constant flow of free renewable electricity all year round, which can really help you slash your energy bills.

When sunlight hits the top layer of silicon, its electrons are ‘excited’ into flowing down towards the bottom layer as a direct current (DC). With the help of the metal contacts, this movement becomes an electrical circuit.

But this isn’t enough to power a home. Household appliances can't use this type of electricity and so it needs to be converted into a different kind of current. Here’s where the inverter comes in.

An inverter converts the direct current (DC) produced by your solar panels into the alternating current (AC) that your electrical appliances need to work. It’s probably the most important part of the whole system.

A small unit installed inside your home, the inverter takes the DC and runs it through a transformer so it essentially becomes the typical household 230-volt AC. From there, the current runs through the fuse box and meter to your appliances.