Can you remember those smooth, flattened metallic surfaces on the surfaces of a house or any building? They’re known as solar panels and are used to convert sunlight into electricity. But how does it work? Alright, let’s put it more specifically and systematically.
What is a Solar Panels?
A solar panel is a large, flat, and power-generating structure that is charged by solar or sunlight. It is made of many small components referred to as the solar cells. They reveal that at least one of these cells is capable of harvesting light to produce electricity. Solar paneling is somewhat like batteries that utilize the sun to make stuff work.
How Do Solar Panels Turn Sunlight Into Electricity?
Solar panels use a special material called silicon inside their cells. Here’s how the process works:
1. Sunlight Hits the Solar-Panel: When sunlight falls on the solar-panel, the solar cells are affected. These cells are meant to collect energy from the sun’s rays.
2. Energy Makes Electrons Move: There are submodules called cells, and on the top layer, the sunlight transmits energy to small particles within the cell known as electrons. When such electrons gain energy, they begin to vibrate round and round. You can do this the same way you do when playing tag—when sunlight touches it, the electrons become ‘it’ and start moving!
3. Electrons Create an Electric Current: Whenever electrons shift from one place to the other, an electric current is produced. This is like light current flowing out of the solar-panel; it is like a river of electricity. This current is what we use to light our homes, to fan ourselves, or even turn on our television sets!
4. Wires Carry the Electricity: Electrical energy produced by a solar-panel is carried by conducting wires and can be taken inside a house or stored in a battery. The wires are useful to transmit the electric power to the areas where it is required.
Why Are Solar Panels Useful?
Solar panels are great because they use renewable energy, which means they get power from the sun—a source that won’t run out anytime soon! Here are a few reasons why solar panels are super cool:
- Good for the Planet: Solar panels do not generate pollution such as that which results from thermal or gas production plants. They assist to maintain the environment clean.
- Save Money: Depending on how much electricity a user has, he or she will require to purchase from power companies, use that which is generated from the solar panels. This can reduce cost on electric bills and so on.
- Works Almost Anywhere: Solar panels can operate as long as is there sun? Indeed they are used widely, even aboard some satellites in space.
What Happens at Night or on Cloudy Days?
Solar panels use sunlight in the production of electricity, and thus can’t operate during the night. But during a day they can generate as much electricity as they want and store it in batteries. These batteries can then be used when it is dark or cloudy, which means often enough in some places.
Fun Facts About Solar-Panels
- The first solar cell was made way back in 1954!
- Solar panels can last for more than 25 years.
- Some big solar farms have thousands of panels, producing electricity for whole towns!
For Overview: Solar-Panels Are the Future!
Photovoltaic means growing solar-panels is a wise approach to harnessing the power of the sun for generating electricity. They enable us to sustain the globe and spend less. Even though the science behind solar-panels is a bit complicated, the basic idea is simple: they bend the sun’s rays and transform this into power that humans use.
So the next time you look at the sleek structure of a solar-panel, you’ll realize that part of its job is to convert the rays of light into the current that keeps our world going round.
Pingback: Energy Efficiency: How We Save Energy in Cool Ways! - techpassion.co.uk