What Exactly Is PV Solar Power?

PV solar power is completely different from other types. Of the 2 main kinds of solar power, active and passive, PV solar power is active. Let us take a look at it.

Solar Panel

Active solar power relies on solar panels. You could imagine them as flat, rectangular boxes on rooftops.

You will find two main types of solar panel. From a distance, both look like rectangular boxes. Both change sunlight into energy, but in 2 different ways. The terms for the two solar panel kinds are actually solar thermal collector as well as photovoltaic module.

1. Solar thermal collector: This solar panel takes in solar energy from the sunlight and uses it to heat air or water.

2. Photovoltaic module: This 2nd type of solar panel collects solar energy and converts it to usable electrical power.

Meet the PV

To respond to the question, what's PV solar power, we have to know what the PV is. The short answer is that PV pertains to a photovoltaic module. "P" is for photo and "V" for voltaic.

In simple terms, "photo" pertains to sunshine and "voltaic" pertains to electrical energy. PV panels convert sunshine into electrical energy. Rays from the sun flows into the solar panel. Electrical energy flows out of the solar panel.

A PV solar panel is actually made up of lots of photovoltaic (light to volts) cells. These specific cells are electrically connected, and covered with glass. The glass provides electrical insulation. It is also good safety from weather and other destructive forces.

When minimal power is required, such as that essential to power a small appliance, a single PV solar panel is enough. When more power is required, an "array" of solar panels is built by attaching panels to one another. If the power will not be provided to the power grid, the solar panel(s) is connected to a charge controller, and battery. If it is meant for on-grid use, the solar panel array will be connected to an electrical inverter.

What Is PV Solar Energy?

Standard silicon solar panels transform approximately fourteen to seventeen percent of sunlight into usable electricity. That is not much. Late in 2006, however, a new photo voltaic cell was released. Solar panels that make use of the new cell could convert into electricity twenty two percent of the sunlight they collect. Theoretically, the most that the cells of a solar panel could convert is claimed to be around 26 to 27 percent of incoming sunshine.

How does this work? Let's look at a really simple explanation.

Each photovoltaic cell in a PV photo voltaic panel is a semiconductor. When sunshine hits these cells, a certain part of the sunshine is absorbed by those silicon cells. The cells take in that part of the sunlight's power. The cells then transfer the absorbed sunlight's energy to the electrons within the silicon. The electrons start to circulate, and this creates an electric current. Metal contacts built into the top and bottom of the PV cells draw off that current and it's sent to the grid or battery. It is now usable electrical power. The power grid sends it on its way, in case you have used an on-grid connection. In case you are using a battery, it is saved in the battery awaiting your need.

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