Solar Energy 101

How does a solar panel work? Solar panels are photovoltaic (also known as PV). PV means that they convert sunlight into electricity. Also, solar energy is a renewable source of power. The panels have no bad emissions. Thus, they are an eco friendly alternative to sources of energy like coal. There are numerous advantages to solar power which far outweigh the disadvantages.

Nowadays, many governments subsidize costs of solar panels. They have also begun to reward people who use solar panels. These schemes include the Feed-in Tariff. These economic and eco friendly reasons mean that more people than ever are now interested in solar energy. Thus, solar panels are definitely a part of the future. However, the science of solar energy can be confusing. So how do they work?

How Does a Solar Panel Work?

Solar panels work by relying on basic science. Solar panels are made up of solar cells, which have two layers. There is an imbalance between the layers. Protons access the cell through exposure to sunlight. The protons work to activate the electrons in the top layer of the cell. This forms a closed loop, which is when electrons move from one layer to the other, which forms power. This occurs because the layers have different charges. The top layer has a negative charge, while the bottom layer has a positive charge.




Solar panels create direct current electricity. Direct current electricity (DC) has a fixed voltage and current. However, buildings can’t use it. An inverter converts the electricity into alternating current electricity (AC). AC power has a changing voltage and current. AC electricity is what we use in the home and other buildings. Unused power can go into the grid to power other buildings. A battery can also store the power for use during the night.




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