How Do Solar Panels Produce Electricity

Shaded solar panels won t produce the same amount of energy as those in direct sunlight.

How do solar panels produce electricity. Eventually fossil fuels a non renewable energy source will be depleted and the world will have to turn toward renewable energy. Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units. How does a solar panel produce energy.

How much energy does a solar panel produce. When subject to sunlight photovoltaic cells create a flow of electric charge inside the solar panel due to the photoelectric effect this flow travels in a circuit of wires that connect groups of solar panels called arrays. Like the weather solar energy production varies day by day and month to month. Unlike fossil fuels solar energy is an infinitely renewable energy source.

Also solar arrays do not generate a consistent amount of power because of variations in the amount of light hitting the pv cells. Solar panels contain cells of semiconductive material usually silicon usually encased in a metallic frame and tempered glass. 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. Solar panels work by allowing particles of light called photons to knock electrons from their atomic orbitals.

When subject to sunlight photovoltaic cells create a flow of electric charge inside the solar panel due to the photoelectric effect. Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to produce electricity according to the united states department of energy. 3 if your roof is sun deprived by un trimmable trees or building solar may not be your best choice. 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.

How do solar panels work to generate electricity. When this occurs a flow of electricity is generated and this electricity is harnessed and preserved as electrical energy. The solar energy generated by the pv array is direct current dc electricity which cannot be used by many electronic devices or returned to the electrical grid because they use alternating current ac power. Solar power is arguably the cleanest most reliable form of renewable energy available and it can be used in several forms to help power your home or business solar powered photovoltaic pv panels convert the sun s rays into electricity by exciting electrons in silicon cells using the photons of light from the sun.

5 hours x 290 watts an example wattage of a premium solar panel 1 450 watts hours or roughly 1 5 kilowatt hours kwh. This flow travels in a circuit of wires that connect groups of solar panels called arrays.