Essential Information About PV Solar Power
PV solar power is totally different from other types. Of the two primary categories of solar power, active and passive, PV solar power is active. Let's take a look at it.
Solar Panel
Active solar power relies on solar panels. You might picture them as flat, rectangular boxes on rooftops.
There are two main types of solar panel. From a distance, both seem like rectangular boxes. Both convert sunlight into energy, but in 2 totally different ways. The terms for the two solar panel varieties are solar thermal collector and photovoltaic module.
1. Solar thermal collector: This solar panel takes in solar energy from the sun and uses it to heat air or water.
2. Photovoltaic module: This next type of solar panel collects solar energy and converts it to usable electrical energy.
Meet the PV
To answer the question, what is PV solar power, we must know what the PV is. The short answer is that PV pertains to a photovoltaic module. "P" is for photo and "V" for voltaic.
In simple terms, "photo" refers to rays from the sun and "voltaic" refers to electrical energy. PV panels convert sunlight into electrical energy. Sunshine flows into the solar panel. Electrical energy flows out of the solar panel.
A PV solar panel is made up of a lot of photovoltaic (light to volts) cells. These cells are electrically connected, and then covered with glass. The glass provides electrical insulation. It is also good safety from weather and other harmful forces.
When minimal energy is needed, such as that necessary to power a small appliance, a single PV solar panel is enough. When more power is needed, an "array" of solar panels is created by connecting panels to one another. If the power will not be supplied to the power grid, the solar panel(s) is connected to a charge controller, and battery. If it is meant for on-grid use, the solar panel array will be connected to an electrical inverter.
What Is PV Solar Power?
Typical silicon solar panels convert approximately 14 to 17 percent of sunlight into usable electricity. That is not much. Late in 2006, however, a new solar cell was launched. Solar panels that utilize the new cell can convert into electricity twenty two percent of the sunlight they collect. Theoretically, the maximum that the cells of a solar panel can convert is said to be approximately 26 to 27 percent of incoming sunlight.
How does it work? Let's look at a really simple explanation.
Each photovoltaic cell in a PV solar panel is a semiconductor. When rays from the sun hits those cells, a certain part of the sunlight is absorbed by those silicon cells. The cells take in that part of the sunlight's power. The cells then transfer the absorbed sunlight's energy to the electrons in the silicon. The electrons begin to flow, and this creates an electrical current. Metal contacts built into the top and bottom of the PV cells draw off that current and it's sent to the grid or battery. It is now usable power. The power grid sends it on its way, when you have used an on-grid connection. If you are using a battery, it is stored in the battery awaiting your need.
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