What is a solar photovoltaic panel?

A solar photovoltaic panel, or just a solar panel is one such technology that helps you generate electricity from our free and abundant source of sunlight, without producing any harmful emissions or pollution. But what is a solar panel and how does a solar panel work to generate electricity?

How does solar PV energy work?

Let’s break down the process of how solar PV energy works in a simple, step-by-step way: Sunlight Hits the Solar Panels: The process begins when sunlight reaches the solar panels installed on a roof or a solar farm. These panels are made up of smaller units called solar cells, typically composed of semiconducting materials like silicon.

What is the science behind solar panels?

The science behind solar panels may not be as complicated as you’d think. Read on for a breakdown of solar panel tech in layman's terms. Some materials known as semiconductors have a characteristic called the photovoltaic effect. This means they can convert sunlight into electricity.

What is a solar panel & how does it work?

2. What is a Solar Panel? A solar panel, or solar module, is an interconnected system of small individual solar cells. They generate electricity from sunlight through the photovoltaic effect. A single solar cell can generate one or two watts of power as output which is just about enough to charge a small LED bulb.

What makes up a solar panel?

Many cells linked together make up a solar panel. Each photovoltaic cell is basically a sandwich made up of two slices of semi-conducting material. According to the Proceedings National Graduate Conference 2012, photovoltaic cells are usually made of silicon — the same stuff used in microelectronics.

Do solar panels convert sunlight into electricity?

Solar panels are already quite efficient in converting sunlight into electricity, but there is still room for improvement. It is expected that in the future, solar panels will become even more efficient, reaching conversion rates of over 30%. This will allow for more electricity generation from a smaller area of solar panels.