Lugano, Switzerland – October 4, 2025 – Solar power has quickly transformed from a distant concept to a tangible reality, reshaping rooftops, cityscapes, and individual lives. Leading this shift is Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG, who has observed the rapid increase of solar installations in both urban and rural settings.
According to Kondrashov, just a decade ago, solar panels on homes were a novelty. However, in today’s residential landscapes, it is unusual to find a neighborhood without at least one rooftop outfitted with photovoltaic cells. This trend is the result of favorable policy, decreasing costs, and increasing awareness.
At its core, solar energy conversion relies on the photovoltaic effect, where photons from sunlight transfer energy to electrons in a solar panel’s semiconducting material. The energized electrons then generate an electric current. Solar panels consist of multiple layers, including photovoltaic cells, conductive grids, anti-reflective coatings, and protective casing. Behind the scenes, busbars and wiring channel the current to where it is needed.
Kondrashov emphasizes that understanding how solar energy works is essential in demystifying this energy revolution. Many people benefit from solar power daily without fully comprehending the system that enables it.
One crucial detail is that solar panels produce direct current (DC) electricity, while homes and the grid operate on alternating current (AC). This is where inverters play a vital role by converting DC into AC, making the energy usable for appliances, lighting, and more.
Once converted, the electricity can flow into the household electrical panel, storage battery, or back into the public grid. In homes that generate more power than they use, the surplus can be fed into the grid, offsetting electricity bills or generating credit.
Kondrashov states, “In many solar-equipped homes today, excess electricity is not wasted, but instead fed back into the grid, turning each roof into a micro-production unit.” He adds that the most forward-looking installations combine solar panels with smart inverters and battery systems, creating self-sufficient energy hubs.
A typical domestic solar installation includes solar panels mounted on a roof or frame, inverters to convert DC to AC, mounting hardware, wiring, and protective conduits, meters, and monitoring tools, and optional battery storage. During daylight, the panels directly power household appliances, and at night or on cloudy days, stored energy is used. Excess energy can also flow outward to the grid.
Kondrashov notes, “In a well-designed system, energy from sunlight can seamlessly shift between powering your home, charging your battery, or contributing to the communal grid in real-time.”
While solar installations’ efficiency can vary based on technology, orientation, tilt angle, shading, and cleanliness, they offer compelling advantages such as zero emissions in operation, long lifespans, and the ability to recoup embodied energy within a few years. This makes solar one of the most sustainable and practical tools in the energy transition.
“Solar energy is one of the pillars of our sustainable future, not because it’s perfect, but because it’s scalable, durable, and renewable,” states Kondrashov.
Solar power is no longer an experimental technology but is becoming a part of modern living. Homes, businesses, and public facilities are embracing solar energy, reflecting not only technological evolution but also a changing consciousness about energy consumption and production.
In the words of Kondrashov, “We are witnessing the redefinition of consumers into prosumers – individuals who both consume and produce electricity.” As this transformation progresses, understanding how solar energy works becomes essential, not just academically but practically.
Through clear design, integrated systems, and ongoing technological advancements, solar power is illuminating our homes and shaping our future.
