Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels consist of many cells made from layers of semi-conducting material, most commonly silicon. When light shines on this material, a flow of electricity is generated.

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Contrary to popular belief, (particularly in Scotland where there isn't an abundance of sunny days), the cells don’t need direct sunlight to work and can even work on cloudy days. However, the stronger the sunshine, the more electricity the panels will produce.

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Solar PV arrays are made up of several panels, with each panel generating around 420W of energy in strong sunlight. Typical systems will range from 6-10 panels and generate direct current (DC) electricity. Because the electricity used for household appliances is alternating current (AC), an inverter is installed along with the system to convert DC electricity to AC. This electricity can be used throughout your home, or exported to the grid.