How Solar Panels Produce Electricity

Some people associate solar power with heat because heat is associated with lots of sunlight but if there s too much heat your solar panels may not work as effectively.

How solar panels produce electricity. Electricity generation solar radiation may be converted directly into electricity by solar cells photovoltaic cells. When this occurs a flow of electricity is generated and this electricity is harnessed and preserved as electrical energy. Solar panels contain cells of semiconductive material usually silicon usually encased in a metallic frame and tempered glass. In such cells a small electric voltage is generated when light strikes the junction between a metal and a semiconductor such as silicon or the junction between two different semiconductors.

Eventually fossil fuels a non renewable energy source will be depleted and the world will have to turn toward renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to produce electricity according to the united states department of energy. Inside each solar panel is a conductive metal plate connected to wires that lead to a fused array combiner. Energy from the array is sent through an inverter which transforms the initial direct electrical current into the alternating electrical current required to power human made structures.

This all happens as light hits a unit called a photovoltaic cell. This flow travels in a circuit of wires that connect groups of solar panels called arrays. Solar panels work by allowing particles of light called photons to knock electrons from their atomic orbitals. Unlike fossil fuels solar energy is an infinitely renewable energy source.

Solar panel output is expressed in units of watts w and represents the panel s theoretical power production under ideal sunlight and temperature conditions.