Solar Energy How It Works

How do solar panels work.

Solar energy how it works.

Published jul 14 2008 updated dec 16 2009. Solar energy works by capturing the sun s energy and turning it into electricity for your home or business. In fact the term photovoltaic literally means light and electric these cells are designed from materials capable of reacting with a photovoltaic effect. How does solar energy work.

A solar cell is a device people can make that takes the energy of sunlight and converts it into electricity. Our sun is a natural nuclear reactor. 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. Photovoltaic pv cells are the powerhouse unit of the entire solar energy industry.

How does a solar cell turn sunlight into electricity. That s a technical way of saying that the panel s photovoltaic cells convert the energy in sunlight to electricity specifically direct current dc. How solar energy works. A solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity according to live science.