How Do Solar Panels Work?
How Do Solar Panels Work? These days, solar panels are becoming more and more popular as the prices of other forms of energy are on the rise. Rather than facing high electrical bills each month, home owners and businesses all around the globe are making the switch to solar power. After all, there are many benefits to solar power over electrical or gas generated power. For starters, once the proper equipment is installed, solar power does not cost a thing because it is generated by the sun. In addition, there is no evidence that the world will run out of solar power any time soon.
Still, many people are still baffled by how solar powered panels work. This article will help to explain how solar powered panels effectively convert sunlight into electricity.
For starters, all solar powered panels are made out of photovoltaic cells. The number of cells needed for a solar panel will vary depending on its size. These cells are made of up several layers, two of which consist of silicon. These are the middle layers of the cell. The outside layers are made up of an antireflective coating and metal conductor strips to absorb the rays from the sun itself.
Essentially, small moving particles called electrons pass through these cells and are converted into electricity along the way through the work of the inside silicon layers themselves. Once the sun's rays are absorbed by the cell itself, they reach an electric field created by an excess of electrons within the center of the cell itself.
As one may be able to recall from high school or college chemistry classes, an atom can only hold so many electrons at once. Since there is an excess of electrons within the cell itself, the electric field responds to this by forcefully shooting back the extra electrons from the sun's rays to the conductor strips on the outside layers of the cell. This is how electricity energy is generated from the cell.
The conductors of the cells themselves are connected to wires and inverters inside the building, whether it be a home or place of business. From there, the electric current from the cells of the solar powered panel can be used to power appliances, lights, and anything else that would normally run on electricity. In addition, some types of solar powered panels can store energy, becoming effective in producing electrical power even in the absence of sunlight.
In fact, even on cloudy days when the sun may appear to be hidden, there are still rays to be absorbed and converted into electrical power by the solar panels themselves.
Overall, solar panels can be a great choice for any home or business. However, it is first necessary to determine the number and size of panels necessary to power any given building, which can be done by a solar power specialist. From there, the solar powered panels can be installed and connected with inverters throughout the home, and home and business owners alike can immediately begin enjoying the numerous benefits of solar energy.