How Do Solar Panels Turn Sunlight Into Electricity

The flow of electrons through the wires is what is translated into electricity.

How do solar panels turn sunlight into electricity. The electricity generated flows to the edge of the panel and into a conductive wire. This is the job of your inverter. This feature originally appeared on the site for the nova program saved by the sun. Photovoltaic solar panels absorb this energy from the sun and convert it into electricity.

It is actually a giant diode a one way valve for electricity and when light falls on it this gives some electrons enough energy to jump through the valve and the only way they can get back is to flow around the circuit doing useful work. Basic steps in solar energy generation and transmission. A solar panel is a semi conductor device which will produce an electrical voltage and current if light falls on it. A typical life span is over 25 years and there are cells in place that have produced electricity reliably for over 40 years.

Go inside a photovoltaic cell and see how solar panels work to convert sunlight into electricity. N for negative the other with a tiny amount of boron p type. When electrons move back and forth and bounce around through the semi conductor materials their movement converts into energy. The filling of a solar cell consists of two.

But at the heart of each system is a simple conversion process. A photovoltaic cell changes light into electricity. P for positive the doping ingredients create extra electrons in the n type layer and holes missing electrons in the p type layer. Inside the solar panel all of those moving electrons are caught and pumped out into the system.

This electricity can then be used to supply renewable energy to your home or business. A basic cell is around 1 100th of an inch thick with a wide range of surface areas. A device that turns this captured energy into useable electricity that can power your home and your devices. The conductive wire brings the electricity to the inverter where it is transformed from dc electricity to ac which is used to power buildings.

So while your solar panels may have captured solar energy this energy is useless unless it can be put into a useable form. A solar cell is made from two layers of silicon one doped with a tiny amount of added phosphorus n type.