ONLYON SCLiving.coop How solar panels work Recent advances in panel technology put solar power one step closer to becoming a practical source of renewable energy across the national power grid. So how do solar panels actually generate electricity? Inside every solar panel there is an array of connected photo- voltaic (PV) cells; “photo” meaning light and “voltaic” meaning the production of electricity. These cells consist of two layers of a semi- conducting material, typically silicon, which are the meat of the solar panels. The silicon is infused with additional elements, giving the top layer a negative charge and the bottom layer a positive charge. The sun emits massive amounts of solar energy each day in the form of photons, which are small particles of light. When these photons collide with PV cells, electrons are knocked loose from atoms in the top silicon layer, leaving gaps to be filled by electrons from the bottom layer. The loose electrons circulate in a single direction, out toward the metal sides of the solar panel, creating electricity with a direct current (DC). The newly generated electricity flows out of the panels to the inverter system. This system exists because the majority of our home appliances and electronics operate on an alternating current, or AC power. The inverter converts the power from DC to AC, allowing it to be transmitted over the network of power lines in a useful form. Community solar engagement PARTICIPANTS Solar-farm members receive credits for that electricity on their monthly bills. SOURCE: SHELTON GROUP, INC. SHARED SOLAR FARM The co-op builds a solar array. Members voluntarily buy a share of the project. UTILITIES The renewable electricity is distributed to the power grid. GONE FISHIN’ The Vektor Fish & Game Forecast provides feeding and migration times. Major periods can bracket the peak by an hour. Minor peaks, 1⁄2 hour before and after. AM PM AM PM Minor Major Minor Major J U N E Minor Major J U LY Minor Major Electric cooperatives across South Carolina and the nation are leading the development of community solar following a model that allows members to voluntarily purchase the power from solar farms. These programs make solar power more equitable for all co-op members, and they spare homeowners the hassle, expense and maintenance chores of installing rooftop panels. To learn more about cooperative-led community solar initiatives in South Carolina, visit myscsolar.com. —KALEY LOCKWOOD 15 2:07 6:52 16 2:52 7:37 17 3:52 8:37 18 5:22 9:37 19 6:52 11:22 20 8:07 1:22 21 9:07 1:52 22 2:37 9:52 23 3:07 10:37 24 3:37 11:07 25 4:07 11:37 26 — 4:52 27 — 5:22 28 12:52 5:52 29 1:37 6:22 30 2:07 6:52 9:52 2:22 10:37 3:07 11:37 4:07 12:22 4:52 — 5:52 1:22 7:07 3:22 8:07 9:22 4:37 10:07 5:37 10:52 6:22 11:37 7:07 7:37 12:07 8:07 12:37 8:37 1:07 9:22 1:37 9:52 2:07 1 2:52 2 3:37 3 4:37 4 9:52 5 11:52 6 — 7 1:22 8 2:07 9 2:52 10 3:52 11 4:37 12 — 13 1:07 14 1:52 15 2:37 16 3:37 7:22 7:52 8:52 5:52 6:52 7:52 8:52 9:37 10:22 11:07 11:52 5:22 6:07 7:07 7:52 8:52 10:22 10:52 11:22 12:07 5:22 2:07 8:07 9:37 10:37 11:37 12:22 7:52 8:37 9:22 10:07 10:37 2:37 3:22 3:52 4:22 12:37 6:37 3:52 4:52 5:52 6:37 7:22 12:37 1:22 2:07 2:52 3:37 SCLIVING.COOP | JUNE 2018 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING 7 Stir-fry secretsu No wok? No problem. Learn how to make Asian stir-fry dishes at home with a hot skillet, some advance prep and Chef Belinda’s tips in this how-to video at SCLiving.coop/food/che elinda. t Perfect potstickers Potstickers are fun to make, and even more fun to eat. Get this month’s bonus recipe at SCLiving.coop/food/recipes. Top-of-the-line competitors Turn to Page 22 for the full story of the 2018 South Carolina Lineworkers’ Rodeo, then visit the “Featured Videos” section of SCLiving.coop for the video of coopera- tive crews demonstrating their skills. Celebrate summer with an extra $100 June 21 is the rst o cial day of summer. To help you make the most of long, lazy, sun-drenched days, we’re o ering the chance to win a $100 Visa gift card in our Reader Reply Travel Sweepstakes. We’ll draw one winner’s name at random from all eligible entries received by June 30, so don’t delay. Register online at SCLiving.coop/reader-reply. GWÉNAËL LE VOT MIC SMITH