How do Solar Panels Harness Energy?
Major advancements in manufacturing, efficiency, and technology have made alternative energy solutions more affordable for homeowners. Solar panels offer an alternative to producing power and is one of the more favorable alternatives in recent years.
How Energy is Transferred from the Solar Panel
Solar panels absorb sunlight through photovoltaic cells, then it’s converted into DC (direct current) energy. An inverter within the solar panels converts the DC energy into a usable AC (alternating current) energy which flows through the electrical panel in the home or building and distributed throughout and powers the electronic devices. Any excess energy that is produced by the solar panels is transferred into the electric grid.
Photovoltaic Effect
The photovoltaic effect was discovered by Edmond Becquerel in 1839. It acts as a semiconductor which is a flow of electric current that has been exposed to sunlight. Each solar panel consists of layers called silicon cells that absorb the sunlight and convert it into electricity. When the sunlight interacts with the silicon cells, the electrons begin to move which creates the electricity, or direct current. The direct current is transferred to a solar inverter to be converted into the usable alternating current.
Parts of the Solar Panels
Other than silicon solar cells, panels are also made up of durable glass casing for protection, insulation, and protective backing to protect from heat and humidity. The panels also have an anti-reflective coating to increase the sunlight absorption.
There are two types of silicon solar cells; monocrystalline and polycrystalline. The polycrystalline cells are made up of fragments or pieces of silicon, while the monocrystalline is made up of one silicon crystal. The monocrystalline format offers higher efficiency than polycrystalline because there is more room for electrons to move but is also more expensive.
Forensic Engineering Specialists
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