How do solar PV panels work?

Whether you love them or hate them, PV panels are a marvel of engineering. But how do they work? Solar photovoltaic panels have become commonplace today. Many roofs around the world are now clad in them. But how do they actually work? Let’s find out. In a nutshell, solar PV panels convert light from the sun into electricity.

What are solar panels and how do they work?

Solar panels are devices that capture the energy that comes from solar radiation and transform it into electricity. They are often referred to as solar photovoltaic panels to distinguish them from solar collectors, which use solar energy thermally to produce domestic hot water.

How do solar photovoltaic cells work?

Solar photovoltaic cells are grouped in panels, and panels can be grouped into arrays of different sizes to power water pumps, power individual homes, or provide utility-scale electricity generation. Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (copyrighted)

What is the photovoltaic effect?

This conversion is called the photovoltaic effect. We'll explain the science of silicon solar cells, which comprise most solar panels. A photovoltaic cell is the most critical part of a solar panel that allows it to convert sunlight into electricity. The two main types of solar cells are monocrystalline and polycrystalline.

How do solar PV panels convert light into electricity?

Let’s find out. In a nutshell, solar PV panels convert light from the sun into electricity. To do this several steps are required, as you can imagine. The first step in the whole cycle is the generation of light. Our Sun, a G2V (second hottest yellow G-class, main sequence) and third-generation star, is a giant nuclear fusion reactor.

What are photovoltaic (PV) solar cells?

In this article, we'll look at photovoltaic (PV) solar cells, or solar cells, which are electronic devices that generate electricity when exposed to photons or particles of light. This conversion is called the photovoltaic effect. We'll explain the science of silicon solar cells, which comprise most solar panels.