Photovoltaic Panels Solar Power Energy
Generation Guide
Photovoltaic Panels On Your Roof
By J K Hellios
Photovoltaic panels, otherwise known as solar panels,
are becoming more popular, as people realise the advantages
of free electricity, when using free sun energy as the
energy source, to generate electricity with solar power.
Many people know about solar hot water, but you can
now use solar power to power all your appliances and
turn on the lights in your home. You can even heat the
water in your solar swimming pool.
The initial cost of the installation of a solar power
system, may be recovered by the savings gained when
generating free electricity with a solar power system.
There are no ongoing solar power generation fees when
using a solar power system. This means you are getting
free electricity. You can compare these costs, to the
rising costs of your electricity bills using fossil
fuels to generate electricity.
A solar power system in your home and business, starts
with photovoltaic panels on your roof.
Solar Panels As Part Of A Solar Power System
A solar panel is basically a device that enables the
collection of and conversion of solar energy into electrical
energy or even heat.
Solar panels are also known as photovoltaic panels
and the atoms that are present in these panels are excited
by the action of the sun’s energy. These atoms are present
in a silicon layer that lies between two panels known
as protector panels.
A formation of electric current takes place as a result
of the action of the electrons from the aforementioned,
excited atoms, and these are then used by a myriad of
external devices. The history of solar panels dates
back by hundreds of years, when their sole purpose was
to heat the water for use in homes.
A specially shaped mirror is used for the concentration
of light onto a tube of oil. Due to this action, there
is a heating up of oil and as these heated oil travels
through a vat of water, it instantly results in the
boiling of this water. The steam that is a resultant
of this process of boiling is used to turn a turbine
for the generation of electricity.
The History Of The First Genuine Solar Cell
It was in the year 1839 that the photovoltaic effect
was discovered by Antoine-Cesar Becquerel, a French
physicist. His experiment in this regard involved the
placement of an electrolyte cell in an electrolyte solution;
two metal electrodes made up the electrolyte cell.
When this device was exposed to sunlight, Becquerel
found that the generation of electricity saw a marked
increase. It was in 1883 that Charles Fritts coated
sheets of selenium with a thin layer of gold and built
the first genuine solar cell.
The Photoelectric Effect
Over a period of time many experiments were conducted
and discoveries were made when it came to solar cells.
Albert Einstein also published his thesis on the photoelectric
effect, during this time and also won the Nobel Prize
for his research.
It was space satellites that made large scale use of
solar electrical energy for the first time. By 1980,
the United States of America, produced a solar cell
which provided an efficiency of nearly twenty percent,
this efficiency was increased to around twenty four
percent in the next two decades and currently there
are a few companies that are manufacturing solar cells
that offer efficiency levels of nearly twenty eight
percent
Pure Silicon Aids The Transmission Of Electrons
Pure silicon forms the basic element of all solar panels
as its makes for an ideal platform that aids transmission
of electrons. This material is used on the plates that
form a solar panel. Solar panels are also created by
combining silicon panels with other elements, with negative
or positive charges.
The Silicon atoms are exposed to the bombardment of
photons when negative plates of solar cells are faced
towards the sunlight. Once all free electrons are drawn
away from the plates, enough electricity is generated
to power various electronic appliances that do not require
too much electricity to power them.
Three Main Types of Solar Panels
Basically there are three types of solar panels, namely
mono-crystalline solar panels, polycrystalline solar
panels, and amorphous solar panels. The life expectancy
of solar panels depends on the type of solar panels
selected by you; generally it’s around twenty years
or so.
Solar panels do not require sustained maintenance for
their upkeep, but if lead acid batteries are used then
they must be checked every six months and topped up
with distilled water if required.
Finding Out The Size Of Solar Panel You Need
If you are looking for a solar panel for your needs
and do not know what size to go for, then the best way
would be to calculate your average consumption of electricity
on a daily basis. This would give you a fair idea of
what kind of solar panel to go for.
In the long run, solar panels will reduce your electricity
bill by a long way, and hence the option of using solar
energy must be explored in a positive manner.
Comparison Of Fossil Fuels And Solar Energy As Energy
Sources
When you look at the rising prices of electricity,
generated by the burning of fossil fuels, with high
emissions, you may want to look for alternatives, like
free electricity. You can get free electricity with
solar power, by using free sun energy as the energy
source. Sun energy is an infinite source, this means
it will never run out. Unlike fossil fuels, which will
eventually run out.
Sun energy is renewable, this means you can keep going
back and get more, and you do not have to travel long
distances to capture sun energy. Just arrange for the
installation of solar panels on your roof, and you should
be able to generate free electricity. Fossil fuels have
to be transported long distances and then burned to
generate electricity, creating pollution in our atmosphere
and contributing to the greenhouse effect.
Low Maintenance Costs With Free Electricity
There almost no emissions when generating solar power
to create electricity. Apart from the initial installation
costs of a new solar power system in your home or business,
there are almost no maintenance costs. Many of the new
solar power systems come with a 10 to 25 year warranty,
depending on the supplier/manufacturer.
Using a solar power system will help reduce your electricity
bills, when using photovoltaic panels.
About the Author:
J K Hellios has written a number of articles on solar
power and renewable energy including Solar
Powered Homes, Solar
Powered Lights, Solar Powered
Cars.
Keep a lookout for more articles available on this website
soon.
Little Known Solar Facts.....
What happens if it is a cloudy day?
Unless you have storage for your collected
solar power, you will have to rely on other means to heat, cool
or power your home.
If the solar panels do not receive sunlight,
the process of converting the thermal rays into
electricity does not happen. If you do have storage,
the power will be pulled from there.
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