How Do Solar Panels Work?

A solar panel is a device that collects photons of sunlight, which are very small packets of electromagnetic radiation energy, and converts them into electrical current that can be used for electrical loads.

Using solar panels is a very practical way to produce electricity for many applications. The obvious one would be off-grid living. Living off-grid means living in a location that is not served by the main electrical grid. Remote homes and cabins benefit greatly from solar power systems. It is no longer necessary to pay huge fees for the installation of power poles and cabling from the nearest main grid access point. A solar power system is potentially less expensive and can provide power for over three decades if properly maintained.

Beyond the fact that solar panels make it possible to live off-grid, perhaps the greatest benefit you would enjoy from using solar energy is that it is both a clean and a renewable energy source. With the advent of global climate change, it has become more important that we do everything we can to reduce the pressure on our atmosphere from the emission of greenhouse gases. Solar panels have no moving parts and require little maintenance. They are very robust and last for decades when properly maintained. Last, but not least, of the benefits of solar panels and solar energy is that once a system has paid for its initial installation costs, the electricity it produces for the remainder of the system's lifespan, which could be as much as 15-20 years depending on the quality of the system, is absolutely free! For grid-tied owners of solar energy systems, the benefits begin from the moment the system comes online, potentially eliminating monthy electricity bills or, and this is the best part, actually earning the system owner additional income from the electric company.

The solar cells you would have seen on satellites, etc., are photovoltaic cells or modules (modules are a set of solar cells electrically connected and joined together in a frame). Photovoltaic energy (photo = light, voltaic = electricity) converts the energy of sunlight directly into electricity. Originally expensive and used only in space, photovoltaic energy is discovering many applications in countless devices, buildings, etc., where free and environmentally sustainable electricity production is needed.

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special materials called semiconductors, such as silicon, which is currently the most commonly used. Basically, when light falls on the solar cell, a percentage of this solar energy is absorbed into the semiconductor material. This energy inside the semiconductor strikes free electrons, allowing them to flow freely. PV cells also possess one or more electric fields that force the free electrons to flow in a certain direction by absorbing light. This flow of electrons is an electric current. Metal contacts at the top and bottom of the PV cell draw that current out to power external electrical products such as lights, calculators, etc. This current, combined with the cell's voltage (which is a result of its embodied electric field or fields), determines the power (or wattage) that the cell can produce.

Solar panels collect clean, renewable energy in the form of sunlight and convert that light into electrical energy that can then be used to power electrical loads. Solar panels are composed of several individual solar cells which are themselves composed of layers of silicon phosphorus (which provides the negative charge) and boron (which provides the positive charge). Solar panels absorb photons and thereby initiate an electric current. The resulting energy generated from photonstriking the surface of the solar panel allows electrons to be knocked out of their atomic orbits and released into the electric field generated by the solar cells.

An average home has more than enough roof area for the number of solar panels needed to produce enough solar electricity to supply all its energy needs. Aided by an inverter, a device that converts the direct current (DC) generated by a solar panel into alternating current (AC), solar panel arrays can be scaled to meet the most demanding electrical load requirements. AC current can be used for powering loads in your home or commercial building, your recreational vehicle or boat (VD/Marine solar panels), your isolated cabin or home, and remote traffic controls, telecommunications equipment, oil and gas flow monitoring, RTU, SCADA, and much more.