How Solar Panels Work

In 1839 french scientist edmond becquerel discovered that certain materials would give off sparks of electricity when struck with sunlight.

How solar panels work.

Each solar panel is made up of tons of individual photovoltaic cells. Solar photovoltaic pv panels are based on a high tech but remarkably simple technology that converts sunlight directly to electricity. How do solar panels work. Solar panels are made up of these small things called pv cells and many pv cells linked together make a solar panel.

Most solar cells are made out of silicon. It s an idea that has been around for well over a century. Each cell is a sandwich made from two slices of semiconductor material usually silicon. Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity.

Ac energy then flows through the home s electrical panel and is distributed accordingly. Solar panels work by absorbing sunlight with photovoltaic cells generating direct current dc energy and then converting it to usable alternating current ac energy with the help of inverter technology. The slice on top gets phosphorus for a negative charge and the slice on bottom. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units.