New to Solar?
Then you've come to the right place.
Let's start with the basics of how Photovoltaic panels work.
Sunlight is composed of photons, or particles of solar energy. These photons
contain various amounts of energy corresponding to the different wavelengths of
the solar spectrum. When photons strike a photovoltaic cell, they may be
reflected, pass right through, or be absorbed. Only the absorbed photons
provide energy to generate electricity. When enough sunlight (energy) is
absorbed by the material (a semiconductor), electrons are dislodged from the
material's atoms. Special treatment of the material surface during
manufacturing makes the front surface of the cell more receptive to free
electrons, so the electrons naturally migrate to the surface.
When the electrons leave their position, holes are formed. When many
electrons, each carrying a negative charge, travel toward the front surface of
the cell, the resulting imbalance of charge between the cell's front and back
surfaces creates a voltage potential like the negative and positive terminals of
a battery. When the two surfaces are connected through an external load,
electricity flows.
How Small Solar Electric Systems Work
The basic PV or solar cell typically produces only a small amount of power.
To produce more power, solar cells (about 40) can be interconnected to form
panels or modules. PV modules range in output from 10 to 300 watts. If more
power is needed, several modules can be installed on a building or at
ground-level in a rack to form a PV array. About 10–20 PV arrays can provide
enough power for a household.
PV arrays can be mounted at a fixed angle facing south, or they can be
mounted on a tracking device that follows the sun, allowing them to capture the
most sunlight over the course of a day.
Because of their modularity, PV systems can be designed to meet any
electrical requirement, no matter how large or how small. You also can connect
them to an electric distribution system (grid-connected), or they can stand
alone (off-grid).
But that is far from all we can do with the sun's energy. Have a look at
our solar hot water heating page to learn
more.
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