Is solar power DC or AC?

There are two kinds of electric current for the solar photovoltaic system. DC is short for the direct current, meaning the electric current flows in the same direction. The acronym AC stands for alternating current, which means the electric current changes the direction forward and backward quickly in a wave-like pattern.

Most traditional solar panels produce DC energy, which is then converted to AC power by the inverter. However, there are solar panels producing AC power. This kind of solar panels integrate microinverters in the panels while the DC solar system connects the solar panels with the string inverter and microinverters.

Since AC power is easy to transmit over long distance, the electric grid and the supply power companies provide for householders are AC, and this is why most domestic and kitchen appliances also require AC power to operate.

No matter it is the DC or AC solar panel, the power source is unregulated and inverters are required to turn it into usable AC energy. As for the new AC solar panel, a single inverter is applicable so that DC lithium battery power storage can be transferred to AC electricity.

On the other hand, the traditional solar panels produce the DC power because the sun facilitates the flow of electrons in the same direction. Likewise, lithium batteries for solar panels produce direct current. As a result, the inverters for both the solar panels and the lithium li ion battery are applied to the solar photovoltaic system. AC-coupled and DC-coupled energy storage systems are optional, and inverters are necessary for both the solar panels and the lithium li ion battery.

All in all, solar power is DC, and inverters are essential to turn the unregulated power to appliance-friendly AC electricity.