How Do Solar Pv Panels Work

Solar panels are attached to an aluminium mounting system which is secured to the roof typically directly to the rafters solar cells can also be integrated directly into the roof tiles this is more suitable for new builds than retrofits.

How do solar pv panels work.

To see how solar works let s look at a typical pv system. A solar photovoltaic pv cell turns sunlight into usable electricity in three general steps. The first photovoltaic pv cells made of selenium were. It s an idea that has been around for well over a century.

Light is absorbed and knocks electrons loose. Loose electrons flow creating a current. Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. How does solar pv work.

Solar cells produce energy in three steps. In 1839 french scientist edmond becquerel discovered that certain materials would give off sparks of electricity when struck with sunlight. The current produced is directly dependent on how much light strikes the module. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units.

Researchers soon discovered that this property called the photoelectric effect could be harnessed. Solar panels are made of a thin layer of semi conducting material sandwiched between a sheet of glass and a polymer resin. A number of solar cells electrically connected to each other and mounted in a support structure or frame is called a photovoltaic module. Modules are designed to supply electricity at a certain voltage such as a common 12 volts system.

The current is captured and transferred to wires. When you install solar panels on your house the pv cells convert sunlight into direct current dc and an inverter connected to the system is what converts direct current into alternating current ac which is the type of current needed to power your household appliances. The photovoltaic effect is a complicated process but these three steps are the basic way that energy from the sun is converted into electricity by solar cells.