Going solar can be a huge decision for you, your home, or your business. Solar panels are a zero-emissions way for homes, businesses, and even electric utilities to power their properties. They can also lower your energy bills.
But, before deciding to go solar, it’s important to know the answers to questions like, “are solar panels a good investment?” “What is the return on investment (ROI) on solar panels?” and “How do solar panels work?”
Keep reading to learn all about solar panel technology, as well as how each one works.
How Solar Panel Technology Powers Home or Business
Solar panel technology is a process of converting sunlight into electricity. Solar panels made up of individual solar cells are then connected together. When solar cells are hit by the sunlight, it knocks electrons loose from their atoms.
The electrons flow through the solar cell and into wires that connect the cells together. The electric fields in the wires force the electrons to flow in one direction.
When the electrons flow through the wires, they create an electric current. The current flows through an inverter, which changes the current from DC to AC. The AC current is then sent to a storage device, such as a battery, used to power a home or office.
Benefits of Solar Panels
Solar panel technology provides a renewable source of energy. Solar panel technology does not produce greenhouse gases, which means it is friendly to the environment. Used in a variety of situations such as powering homes, businesses, and even vehicles, it shows versatility.
It has the potential to save money on electricity bills. Visit Blue Raven Solar for more solar panel facts.
The Different Types of Solar Panel Technology
Crystalline silicon solar panels are the most common type of technology used in solar panel systems. They comprised a silicon wafer cut into thin pieces and then assembled onto a frame. The silicon wafer is then coated with a light-absorbing material silicon, cadmium telluride, or copper indium selenide.
Depositing a thin layer of photovoltaic material onto a substrate made the thin-film solar panels. The most common substrates used are glass, metal, or plastic. The type of photovoltaic material used varies, but the most common are cadmium telluride and copper indium selenide.
Solar thermal technology uses mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a receiver. The receiver absorbs the sunlight and converts it into heat. The heat is then used to generate electricity.
Organic photovoltaic technology uses organic materials to convert sunlight into electricity. These materials are usually carbon-based and found in plant leaves and other organic matter. When light hits the solar cell, it creates an electronic current used to power electronic devices.
The Future of Solar Panel Technology
The future of solar panel science is looking very bright. Solar panel technology has come a long way in recent years and is only getting better. Costs have come down dramatically, making home solar panels a very viable option for powering homes and businesses.
Ready for the Sun Power?
The technology is also becoming more efficient, meaning that more of the sun’s energy can be converted into usable electricity. The future of solar panel technology is very exciting. Continued improvements in efficiency and cost will make solar an increasingly attractive option for powering our world.
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