The idea of West Hills Solar Power is not surprising. In West Hills, California, with its seemingly endless amount of sunshine and very little rain and cloudy days, setting up silicone panels that are excellent receptors of sunlight and conductors for electricity is a no brainer. But exactly how does solar power work? How exactly do those shiny, square solar cells trap the light of the sun and turn into a blender mixing fruit smoothies? What occurs when sunlight hits silicone draped squares situated on a home’s roof?

West Hills Solar Power Takes Advantage of Simple Science

Everyone knows that solar power is derived from the sun. But just how does this happen? Turning sunlight into energy can be done in one of two ways – through the photovoltaic effect and concentrated solar power systems. The photovoltaic effect was discovered in the late 1830s by French scientist Antoine Becquerel. Antoine’s son Henry went on to win The Nobel Prize for his work in radioactivity. He shared the prize with probably the most famous female scientist Madame Curie and her husband Pierre. Antoine Becquerel discovered that when you hold an electrode (conductor of electricity) in sunlight energy can be measured. Bell Laboratories’ engineer and American inventor Russell Ohr perfected the technique by using a silicone rod to generate electricity through light. This is called the “photovoltaic effect.” Today, solar panels are made of solar cells which include a photovoltaic material such as crystalline silicone that serve as good converters of solar rays into electricity. Another way to turn sunlight into solar power is to use mirrors and reflectors to concentrate the sunlight into a small area. This light is turned into heat and powers a heat engine which is connected to an electrical power generator. This is what is known as a concentrated solar power system. Since they cost between $600 million to $1 billion to build there are not many concentrated solar power systems in existence.

West Hills Solar Power Now Available

Concentrated solar power systems are rare so most people harness solar power through the use of solar cells. These cells are connected together to create solar panels which are available through professional solar power installers such as West Hills Solar power and other companies or even at your local Lowe’s. Most experts recommend residents who want to harness solar power work with a licensed contractor so as not to make mistakes. In California, homeowners must have permits issued by the state in order to install the solar panels.