What It Is and How It Works

Photovoltaic solar panels absorb sunlight and convert the sun's energy into direct current (DC) electrical energy. The electricity travels from the solar panels to an inverter, which converts the DC power into alternating current, or AC – the current you use every day. The energy created travels to your breaker panel, where it is ready for use in your home or business. Any time your system generates more than you can use, the excess electricity is sent to the grid for your use at a later time. If you need more electricity than your system generates, you can get the remainder from the grid.

Photovoltaics (PV), commonly known as solar cells, were developed in the 1950s to power Earth-orbiting satellites. Today they are used to power everything from hand-held calculators to cellular telephone towers. In some cases, photovoltaics are used where it is prohibitively expensive or impossible to deliver electricity by traditional means.

Solar cells use direct and scattered sunlight to produce direct current (DC) electricity, which is then converted to alternating current (AC) for use in homes and businesses. PV devices are commonly made from rigid, crystalline silicon, although other materials can also be used.

Solar cells are often grouped together in panels of about 1 square foot to 1 square yard, and panels can be grouped together in larger modules and arrays. They are typically mounted at a fixed angle facing south, southeast or southwest, or on a tracking device that moves to follow the sun, allowing the cells to capture the most sunlight over the course of a day.

With the appropriate equipment, PV can operate in connection with the electric utility grid, offering users the opportunity to get credit from FPL for any excess electricity generated in a process called "net metering." The FPL Solar Rebates Program requires PV systems to be interconnected with our grid. For more information on this subject, please visit www.FPL.com/netmetering.

Customers should choose products and contractors carefully, given the many variables involved. FPL bears no responsibility for the quality or performance of any products or contractors chosen by the customer.