When I started working on this project I realized that I honestly didn't know how photovoltaic panels worked. I wanted to find a video that wasn't too dry that would explain it. This video by Hila Science is still sort of hard to get through, but I think it really explains how the whole system works.
Here is a quick summary:
Photovoltaic cells are quite similar to a battery. Silicon crystals create solar cells; when phosphorus atoms are added to the silicon it creates the negative terminal of the battery and when boron atoms are added to the silicon it creates the positive terminal of the battery. Metal bars embedded in the surface of the cell act as conductors. When light shines on the panel it causes the negative layer to become energized and electrons to flow to the positive layer.
This only produces a small amount of energy so many solar cells need to be grouped together into panels. The amount of energy produced by the sun is about 1000 watts per square meter, and current photovoltaic panels are able to convert approx. 10% of this into energy. But technology is always advancing, so it is expected that soon we will be able to convert much more than this into usable energy.
This only produces a small amount of energy so many solar cells need to be grouped together into panels. The amount of energy produced by the sun is about 1000 watts per square meter, and current photovoltaic panels are able to convert approx. 10% of this into energy. But technology is always advancing, so it is expected that soon we will be able to convert much more than this into usable energy.
Note:
Video from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Caf1JIz4X2I&feature=PlayList&p=5F40C3F10400BB3C&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=42
Video from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Caf1JIz4X2I&feature=PlayList&p=5F40C3F10400BB3C&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=42
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