With almost 30 years of experience in the private banking and asset management industry, Youssry Henien is a veteran financial consultant. During his career, Youssry Henien also became interested in solar energy and how domestic solar power works.
Like all light, sunlight contains energy. Typically, that energy is converted into heat when it hits an object. However, when struck by sunlight, certain objects turn that energy into electricity instead of heat. Large crystals made of silicon were the first objects used to generate solar power. Silicon crystals work very well, but are difficult to grow to the appropriate size. Today, many solar panels are made with smaller, cheaper crystals.
Once sunlight has hit the solar panels on a rooftop, the crystals convert the sunlight into direct current (DC) power. The panels send the DC power to an inverter so that it can be converted into alternating current (AC) power, used in homes and businesses. Consumers typically are still connected to the commercial utility grid, which supplies electricity from conventional sources at night.
Like all light, sunlight contains energy. Typically, that energy is converted into heat when it hits an object. However, when struck by sunlight, certain objects turn that energy into electricity instead of heat. Large crystals made of silicon were the first objects used to generate solar power. Silicon crystals work very well, but are difficult to grow to the appropriate size. Today, many solar panels are made with smaller, cheaper crystals.
Once sunlight has hit the solar panels on a rooftop, the crystals convert the sunlight into direct current (DC) power. The panels send the DC power to an inverter so that it can be converted into alternating current (AC) power, used in homes and businesses. Consumers typically are still connected to the commercial utility grid, which supplies electricity from conventional sources at night.
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