How does a grid-tied solar system work?
When the sun’s rays shine on a PV array, DC current flows to the system’s inverter, which converts that current into AC. Whatever loads (lights, television, HVAC, refrigerator, etc.) are being used in the home or business use some of that power to perform their jobs. If there is more power being produced by the PV system than what is demanded at a particular time, the excess flows through the meter (spinning it backward) and back to the utility. An example might be in the afternoon, when the sun is shining at its strongest onto the array but no one is home to demand much power. Conversely, power flows from the utility to the home at night when residents return from work and use lots of lights and other loads… and the sun is no longer powering the array.
