Curious About Solar Panels? Learn How They Work!
How Do Solar Panels Work?
Recently there has been an increasing buzz about solar panels as more and more individuals and companies decide to adopt solar panels as their primary source of energy. Google Search Trends show an impressive increase of solar panel interest in the last five years. Between Apple installing them on their new headquarters and recent news of Walmart suing Tesla over potential negligent installation, the news has a new solar story every day!
But what are solar panels and how do they work?
Let’s start at the beginning.
What is a solar panel?
Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic cells, are tools used to capture heat from the sun and convert it into electricity.
Ok that seems pretty simple, but how does it work?
The simple explanation is that the panels are made up of smaller components called cells. These cells are made of silicon, and placed in rows on the panels. These cells are semiconductors that collect and convert solar energy (sunlight) into electricity.
The absorption of this solar energy knocks electrons out of place, allowing them to flow freely in a current. This current is directed to metal inside the panels, which can then be directed out of the panel and into another appliance.
This current is now electrical energy flowing in a Direct Current or DC. In your house you use AC or Alternating Current, so the DC energy needs to change to AC energy for you to be able to use it in your house. To convert DC to AC you’ll use an inverter. The inverter will change the energy, and then you can use it to power your home!
In conclusion: silicon cells absorb sun light, which is channeled and converted into usable AC energy through an inverter, then sent to your appliances or to a storage device like a battery for later use.
If you want to see a more in depth explanation check out this pdf from how stuff works! This is one of the documents we recommend to those new to solar! http://igs.nigc.ir/STANDS/ARTIC/SL-01.PDF
