Photovoltaic Systems (sometimes shortened to “PV” systems) are the more technical term for solar power systems. Photovoltaic is a word derived from two words, one from ‘photo’ meaning light, and another from ‘volt’ which is a measurement of electrical energy. In simplest terms, a photovoltaic system is a configuration that collects energy from sunlight and turns it into electric power. Here is a simple explanation of the process.

PV systems begin with a means of gathering the energy from sunlight. This is done though a set of solar cells-panels designed to absorb the heat energy from the sun’s rays as they hit them. A good number of solar cells used today are so efficient that even on cloudy days they can still gather energy.

Once the solar cells collect the energy from the sunlight, the photovoltaic system converts that energy into electricity, which can be used immediately or stored for future use. In standalone systems, the unused energy is typically stored in electric batteries, and this used to be the case for most PV systems. At present, homes and business establishments utilizing solar energy can remain connected with the local power grid because their PV system can be tied to it. Thus, unused electricity can be fed back through the wiring into the local power grid, which essentially means that the local electric company “stores” the electricity your PV system provides-eliminating the need for storage batteries. In setups like these, the electric company credits you for any electricity you feed into the grid.

Although photovoltaic systems are eco-friendly, it is fairly obvious that there will be days when you will be able to gather excessive amounts of energy and some days when you can hardly gather some energy. Standalone systems are often hybridized in order to be able to include an alternative power source that will kick in when the solar cells are unable to gather sufficient amounts of energy. In most cases with standalone systems, the alternate energy source is a diesel generator, or sometimes biogas. For individuals who are keen on helping save the environment, another alternate source of power is the wind. For the typical home or business user, though, the alternate energy source is simply the local power company. Because most consumer PV systems are tied to the power grid, the home or business simply starts drawing from the power grid when the system is not producing enough solar energy.

Hopefully, this brief overview gives a better understanding of photovoltaic systems and how they work. While these systems rely on the amount of daylight available, adaptations can be made to make solar energy a reliable energy source.

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