What Is A Solar Panel?
What is a solar panel?
We can say it is one of the revolutionary technologies that had put an immense impact on our life. Once described as a luxury, electricity is now a necessity without which we cannot survive, not at any rate. From our cell phones to small house hold equipment, computers, light and almost everything is working on this power. Keeping in mind this high consumption rate of electricity people have invented new methods of electricity production. Solar panels are one of them.
What exactly is a solar panel?
A solar panel is also known as a collection of photovoltaic cells. A solar panel is a component of large photovoltaic systems that are installed to generate electricity in larger quantities. This energy is then used in houses for various appliances and also in larger means for commercial use. A single solar panel cannot produce that much amount of energy so to cope with this many cells are installed in the form of a photovoltaic system.
What is a solar panel made of?
Solar panel cells are made up of silicon or any other similar semiconducting material. These cells get power directly from sunlight. In more clear sunlight, an increased amount of electricity is produced. These cells capture sunlight and then convert it into electrical energy in a process called photovoltaic effect. For better working of cells it is very necessary that the cells should be directly connected with one another and also with a main system and battery or converter. This mutually connected system then produce electricity on a larger scale. A single cell produces maximum 12 volts of energy.
Efficiency of solar panels:
There are various volts of energy production for different solar panels. Mostly it ranges from 14 to 25% of energy production. These cells convert almost 14%-25% of solar energy into electricity. However there are various factors that might affect efficiency of a solar panel. Efficiency of a solar panel is directly proportional to the solar insolation. Solar insolation is measurement of the amount of the solar radiation a given solar panel can receive.
How a solar panel works:
Solar panels are a collective bunch of solar cells that trap clean and clear sunlight and convert it into electric power. Solar panels produce electricity with the help of photons. The cells absorb photons and then emit an electrical charge. Along with silicon as a semiconducting material there are phosphorous and boron as well. In this structure, phosphorous provides the negative charge whereas boron provides the positive charge.
Process of energy conversion through solar panels:
Solar cells are installed in such a way that they are in direct contact with sunlight. When photons strike with the surface of a solar panel, energy emits. This emitted energy causes electron to be knocked out of their orbit. At this time the electrical field produced in the system pulls these electrons in the form of a directional current. From this directional current metal cells generate electricity that is then used for other purposes. This overall procedure of conversion of sunlight with the help and involvement of electrons into electrical energy is named as photovoltaic effect.
