How Solar Panels Create Electricity

Arrays of photovoltaic cells are normally used to collect the energy from the sun and convert it into electricity.

How solar panels create electricity.

Solar panel wattage represents a solar panel s theoretical power production under ideal sunlight and temperature conditions. Inside each solar panel is a conductive metal plate connected to wires that lead to a fused array combiner. Solar panels produce direct current dc and your home runs on alternating current ac. Solar panels contain cells of semiconductive material usually silicon usually encased in a metallic frame and tempered glass.

Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to produce electricity according to the united states department of energy. The best demonstration of solar power in action that i have ever seen is at the children s museum of pittsburgh. Solar power systems like the one on our roof produce power directly from the sun. This all happens as light hits a unit called a photovoltaic cell.

Solar panels are made by joining a number of solar cells together in series. An inverter is. Solar panels work by allowing particles of light called photons to knock electrons from their atomic orbitals. Wattage is calculated by multiplying volts x amps where volts represents the amount of force of the electricity and amperes amps refers to the aggregate amount of energy used.

This flow travels in a circuit of wires that connect groups of solar panels called arrays. Because of physics there are losses in converting the energy from the sun into dc power and turning the dc power into ac power. To generate solar energy the photons radiated from the sun to earth must be collected converted into a usable format and then delivered to an electronic device or the electric grid. This ratio of ac to dc is called the derate factor and is typically about 8.

When this occurs a flow of electricity is generated and this electricity is harnessed and preserved as electrical energy. Unlike fossil fuels solar energy is an infinitely renewable energy source. A solar thermal system generates electricity indirectly by capturing the heat of the sun to produce steam which runs a turbine that produces electricity. A solar photovoltaic system produces electricity directly from the sun s light through a series of physical and chemical reactions known as the photovoltaic effect.

Generally speaking residential solar panels available in 2020 will either fall in the range of 260 330 watts and will contain 60 solar cells joined together or they will fall into the range of 360 400 watts and comprise 72 cells joined together. When subject to sunlight photovoltaic cells create a flow of electric charge inside the solar panel due to the photoelectric effect. Energy from the array is sent through an inverter which transforms the initial direct electrical current into the alternating electrical current required to power human made structures.