How Do Solar Panels Create Energy

Many solar panels use silicon one of the planet s most common elements.

How do solar panels create energy. So how do solar panels actually generate electricity. Solar panels contain cells of semiconductive material usually silicon usually encased in a metallic frame and tempered glass. Solar energy is one of the most affordable renewable energy sources available today. Here s the process demystified.

Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to produce electricity according to the united states department of energy. For the sake of example if you are getting 5 hours of direct sunlight per day in a sunny state like california you can calculate your solar panel output this way. Along with inverting dc to ac power they also provide ground fault protection and system stats including voltage and current on ac and dc circuits energy production and maximum power point tracking. How do solar panels work to generate electricity.

To find out how solar panels work you need to understand how they re made. Unlike fossil fuels solar energy is an infinitely renewable energy source. This flow travels in a circuit of wires that connect groups of solar panels called arrays. In this way the solar energy system installed reduces demand for power from the utility when the solar array is generating electricity thus lowering the utility bill.

These types of solar energy systems are also known as on grid or battery less and they make up approximately 98 percent of the solar power systems installed today. When subject to sunlight photovoltaic cells create a flow of electric charge inside the solar panel due to the photoelectric effect. Eventually fossil fuels a non renewable energy source will be depleted and the world will have to turn toward renewable energy. Thus the output for each solar panel in your array would.

How much energy does a solar panel produce. A standard solar panel also known as a solar module consists of a layer of silicon cells a metal frame a glass casing and various wiring to allow current to flow from the silicon cells silicon atomic 14 on the periodic table is a nonmetal with conductive properties that allow it to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity.