How Solar Panels Produce Electricity

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

How solar panels produce electricity.

When subject to sunlight photovoltaic cells create a flow of electric charge inside the solar panel due to the photoelectric effect. 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. Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to produce electricity according to the united states department of energy. 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.

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. Electricity generation solar radiation may be converted directly into electricity by solar cells photovoltaic cells. Solar panels work by allowing particles of light called photons to knock electrons from their atomic orbitals. When this occurs a flow of electricity is generated and this electricity is harnessed and preserved as electrical energy.

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. Inside each solar panel is a conductive metal plate connected to wires that lead to a fused array combiner. Unlike fossil fuels solar energy is an infinitely renewable energy source.

Solar panels contain cells of semiconductive material usually silicon usually encased in a metallic frame and tempered glass.