How it works
How solar energy works, explained clearly
A grid-connected solar system is simpler than it looks. Here is what it is made of, how it produces and what happens to the energy you have left over.
In short
A grid-connected solar panel system converts sunlight into electricity for your home or business. During the day it generates and consumes; the surplus is exported to the grid and deducted from the bill through net metering (CREG Resolution 174 of 2021). At night or without sun, you draw energy from the grid as normal. That is why batteries are not needed, unless you want backup during outages.
Components
What makes up a solar system
Solar panels
They capture sunlight and convert it into direct-current electricity. They are the visible element of the system, on the roof or on the ground.
Inverter
It transforms the direct current from the panels into the alternating current your home or business uses. It is the 'brain' of the system.
Structure and protections
The structure fixes the panels safely; the electrical protections safeguard the installation and the people around it.
Bidirectional meter
It records both the energy you draw from the grid and the energy you export to it, the basis of net metering of surplus.
The flow of energy
What happens over the course of a day
- 1
By day: you generate and consume
The panels produce energy that feeds your appliances directly. If you produce more than you use at that moment, the surplus goes to the grid.
- 2
Surplus: the grid stores it
Thanks to net metering, the energy you export to the grid is deducted from your bill, as though the grid were a virtual battery.
- 3
At night or without sun: you draw from the grid
When the panels are not producing, your supply comes from the grid as normal. That is why a grid-connected system does not need batteries to work.
Net metering in Colombia
Sources: Resolución CREG 174 de 2021 (net metering regulation) (opens in a new tab)
Step by step
The installation process
From the quote to commissioning, this is what happens.
- 1
Assessment and quote
Your consumption and your roof are analysed to size the system and deliver a proposal with equipment, price and scope.
- 2
Design and engineering
The electrical design, the structure and the connection scheme are defined, complying with the applicable technical regulations.
- 3
Installation
The panels, the inverter and the protections are mounted. On a home it usually takes a few days.
- 4
Legalization and connection
The connection and net metering are processed with your grid operator. It is a mandatory step in order to export surplus.
- 5
Commissioning and monitoring
The system is switched on and monitoring is configured so you can follow generation in real time from an app.
The full process usually takes several weeks, depending on the grid operator and the size of the project.
Updated: July 14, 2026.
Questions about how it works
The most frequent questions about how a solar system works in practice.
Do the panels work when the power goes out?
A grid-connected system shuts down automatically during an outage, for the safety of the staff repairing the grid. To have power during blackouts you need a hybrid system with batteries.
What is net metering?
It is the scheme that lets you deduct from your bill the energy your system exports to the grid when it produces more than you consume. In Colombia it is regulated for small-scale self-generators by CREG Resolution 174 of 2021, which replaced CREG 030 of 2018.
How much maintenance does it need?
Little. Mainly cleaning the panels and a periodic inspection of the installation. With no moving parts, maintenance is low compared with other energy sources.
How long does the system last?
Panels usually carry performance warranties of 25 years or more. The inverter has a typical service life of 10 to 15 years and is usually the only component replaced during the life of the system.
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