What Exactly Is PV Solar Power?
PV solar power is different from other types. Of the two principal categories of solar power, active and passive, PV solar energy is active. Let's look at it.
Solar Panel
Active solar energy relies on solar panels. You could picture them as flat, rectangular boxes on rooftops.
There are two main types of solar panel. From a distance, both appear like rectangular boxes. Both convert sunlight into electrical power, but in two totally different ways. The terms for the two solar panel kinds are solar thermal collector and photovoltaic module.
1. Solar thermal collector: This solar panel takes in solar power from the sun and makes use of it to heat air and water.
2. Photovoltaic module: This second kind of solar panel collects solar energy and converts it to usable electrical power.
Meet the PV
To answer the question, what is PV solar energy, we must know what the PV is. The short reply is that PV refers to a photovoltaic module. "P" is actually for photo and "V" for voltaic.
In simple terms, "photo" pertains to sunlight and "voltaic" refers to electrical power. PV panels convert sunlight into electrical power. Sunlight flows into the solar panel. Electric energy flows out of the solar panel.
A PV solar panel is actually made up of many photovoltaic (light to volts) cells. These cells are electrically linked, and then covered with glass. The glass offers electrical insulation. It's also good protection from weather conditions and other destructive forces.
When minimal energy is needed, like that necessary to power a small electrical device, a single PV solar panel is sufficient. When much more power is required, an "array" of solar panels is created by connecting panels to one another. If the power would not be supplied to the power grid, the solar panel(s) is connected to a charge controller, and battery. When it is intended for on-grid use, the solar panel array would be connected to an electrical inverter.
What Is PV Solar Energy?
Conventional silicon solar panels convert almost 14 to 17 percent of sunshine into usable electrical power. That isn't much. Late in 2006, though, a new photo voltaic cell was introduced. Solar panels that utilize the brand new cell can convert into electrical energy 22 percent of the daylight they collect. Theoretically, the most that the cells of a solar panel can convert is said to be roughly 26 to 27 percent of incoming sunlight.
How does this work? Let's take a look at a very simple explanation.
Every photovoltaic cell in a PV photo voltaic panel is a semiconductor. When sunlight hits those cells, a specific part of the sunlight is absorbed by those silicon cells. The cells take in that part of the daylight's energy. The cells then transfer the absorbed daylight's energy to the electrons within the silicon. The electrons begin to flow, and this produces an electrical current. Metallic contacts built into the top and backside of the PV cells draw off that current and it is dispatched to the grid or battery. It is now usable electrical energy. The power grid sends it on its way, if you have used an on-grid connection. If you are using a battery, it's stored in the battery awaiting your need.
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