How Do Solar Pv Panels Work

Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity.

How do solar pv panels work.

It s an idea that has been around for well over a century. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units. How does solar pv work. To see how solar works let s look at a typical pv system.

This power runs through your electrical panel box just like electricity you get from the grid and you can potentially run your entire house on solar power than power taken from the grid. Solar cells produce energy in three steps. The current produced is directly dependent on how much light strikes the module. Solar panels are made of a thin layer of semi conducting material sandwiched between a sheet of glass and a polymer resin.

The photovoltaic effect is a complicated process but these three steps are the basic way that energy from the sun is converted into electricity by solar cells. A solar photovoltaic pv cell turns sunlight into usable electricity in three general steps. Light is absorbed and knocks electrons loose. The current is captured and transferred to wires.

The first photovoltaic pv cells made of selenium were. A number of solar cells electrically connected to each other and mounted in a support structure or frame is called a photovoltaic module. Modules are designed to supply electricity at a certain voltage such as a common 12 volts system. Loose electrons flow creating a current.

When you install solar panels on your house the pv cells convert sunlight into direct current dc and an inverter connected to the system is what converts direct current into alternating current ac which is the type of current needed to power your household appliances. Researchers soon discovered that this property called the photoelectric effect could be harnessed. When exposed to daylight the semi conducting material becomes energised and this produces electricity.