Science Of How Solar Panels Work

Solar photovoltaic pv panels are based on a high tech but remarkably simple technology that converts sunlight directly to electricity.

Science of how solar panels work.

These cells are made of semi conductive materials most often silicon a material that can conduct electricity while maintaining the electrical imbalance needed to create an electric field. In 1839 henri becquerel noted that silver and platinum electrodes. The first photovoltaic pv cells made of selenium were. Researchers soon discovered that this property called the photoelectric effect could be harnessed.

Step by step overview. Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. In fact a solar panel is comprised of an array of smaller units called photovoltaic cells which are the. Solar panels generate electricity when photons knock electrons off from the material.

Solar pv panels are comprised of many small photovoltaic cells photovoltaic meaning they can convert sunlight into electricity. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units. Solar panels generate electrical current by exploiting a phenomenon first described more than a century ago by a french physicist. Solar panels work by absorbing sunlight with photovoltaic cells generating direct current dc energy and then converting it to usable alternating current ac energy with the help of inverter technology.