Main Menu

 Home

 Solar Panels

 Overview
 How it works
 Construction
 Where to buy

 Renewable Energy

 Wind Power
 Hydroelectricity

 More Links

• Emergency Generators
• Grid Tie Inverter

How Solar Panels work

Solar panels work by converting photons (light) into electrons (electricity). Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special materials called semiconductors (such as silicon), consisting of a large-area p-n junction diode. When light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. This energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely, thus creating current (electricity). This current, together with the cell's voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage) that the solar cell can produce.

For a more in-depth view of how solar panels work, see this entry in the wikipedia.

 Latest News

Energy Department Defends Funding of Foreign-Owned Renewables Projects - New York Times (blog)

ViaLogy wins renewable energy contract with Enel - Reuters

DOE Chief Urges Energy Leaders to Accept Curbs on Greenhouse Gases - New York Times

GWSC Is Growing Rapidly in the Green Energy Sector - SYS-CON Media (press release)

China Targets Battery Pilot Project For Renewable Energy - Wall Street Journal

Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. Q4 2009 Earnings Call Transcript - Seeking Alpha (blog)

Followup Nuclear Energy ? Green Power - Energy Collective (blog)

Markell wants higher green-energy requirements for Delmarva Power - The News Journal

Future role of natural gas discussed at Houston energy conference - Fort Worth Star Telegram

Study Shows Bright Green Future for Smart Appliances - Triple Pundit

0.0335s