How Do Solar Panels Work?

How Do Solar Panels Work?

As shown in the picture below, a solar panel (or module) is a group of cells connected electrically and grouped into a frame. Many modules are put together to form a solar array and many arrays connected together will form a solar system.

Solar cells, or photovoltaic (PV) cells convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar cells are made of special materials called semiconductors (usually silicon). When sunlight hits the solar cell, part of it is absorbed and electrons from the atoms in the semiconductor material are released.

The electrical conductors attach respectively on positive and negative sides, thus forming an electrical circuit. From there the electrons can be captured in the form of an electric current (electricity). This current, together with the cell's voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage) that the solar cell can produce.

There are stand-alone PV systems and grid-connected PV systems. What makes them different is that in the first case solar energy is stored for personal use, whilst in a grid-connected PV system you can sell your surplus of electricity back to the grid.

What might be surprising is that solar panels do not need direct sunlight to work. Although efficiency is boosted on sunny days, solar panels also produce a considerable amount of electricity on cloudy days and during the winter season. The chart below shows how much energy is gathered by solar panels throughout the year (with solar panels facing south and a 3kWp system). The power of PV solar panels is measured in kilowatts peak (kWp).

A typical commercial solar module has an efficiency of 16,5% to 19.9%, meaning that over one-sixth of the sunlight hitting the module is converted into electricity. One important challenge of the PV industry is to improve solar module efficiencies and at the same time hold down the cost per cell.

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