As a green consumer, generating electricity from solar energy could possibly be an option for you, as it is completely renewable and there are no emissions produced. Due to rising temperatures and an increase in sunnier days, there has been an increase in interest for adding solar panels to the roofs of our homes.
Solar panels, also known as photovoltaics or PVs, absorb the light emitted from the sun and convert it into electricity that can then be used to power your homes and businesses.
Each solar panel is made up of several smaller solar cells, which are usual made using silicone, which is semi-conductive, as well as phosphorous and boron.
Electricity is generated when the light from the sun hits the solar cell. The sunlight contains particles called photons and it is these photons that initiate the production of an electric current when they hit the solar cells. This is known as the photovoltaic effect.
On a sunny day, each solar cell can generate up to 355W of energy. Usually, each solar panel will contain 15 of these individual cells.
It is also necessary to install an inverter alongside the solar panels, this is because the energy generated is a direct current (DC) and our homes tend to run on an alternating current (AC). Therefore, the inverter will convert the DC current into usable electricity.
The electricity produced can then be either used to power your home or it can be put into the power grid.
