Solar cells convert solar energy into electricity.Solar cells are also called photovoltaic cells (PV cells). These are now being used in a variety of applications, starting from small toys to huge machinery.These cells are small components that are assembled together to create something called a solar module. The greater the power requirement, the larger the module has to be. The sun is the world’s largest source of energy. It is also a renewable energy resource, which means that you can trap its energy without worrying about it getting depleted. This is the main reason why experts consider solar power to be the energy future for the world.Solar Cell MeaningHere are some facts about solar-powered energy to awe you.A cell is a small device that is capable of generating electricity using solar technology.It is a device that generates electricity by using sunlight as a source.The idea of generating usable energy from sunlight was first discovered in 1887 in Russia.It was only in 1954 that a practical photovoltaic cell was discovered in the United States.This was proposed by the popular Bell Laboratories.Did you know that solar energy was first used in space applications?A satellite named Vanguard I used solar energy as its alternative energy source by using external solar panels connected to its body.Only after this did the actual idea of using solar energy become popular.Solar-powered calculators were invented in 1978, and they instantly became a hit.Solar energy produces more energy every hour than the entire world can actually use in a year!That is how abundant this source of energy is.Even though solar energy is so abundantly available right now, it satisfies only about 1% of the world’s energy needs.Most governments offer tax benefits for their citizens who choose solar power over other non-renewable sources of power.The average price of one watt of solar power was $96 in the ’70s.The cost has been reduced by up to 99%. In 2020, one watt of solar power will cost just 20 cents.Solar energy is also called ‘green energy’ as it is obtained from the sun and does not pollute the environment.Solar power is also free, and you may have to only spend money on the initial investment.Solar power can be used to power residences, commercial buildings, large machinery, and even automobiles.Working Of Solar CellHow does such a cell absorb sunlight and convert it into electrical energy? Here is a detailed explanation of the workings of this humble cell.Sunlight from the sun consists of particles called photons. Photons are very small packets of energy, and they are massless. As a result, they are able to move at the same speed as light in a vacuum space.Photon packets from the sun reach the earth’s surface in just 8.5 minutes.Keep in mind that the distance it travels is about 93 million mi (1.9 million km) at this time!Almost all solar panels contain a semiconductor material like silicon.These semiconductor materials can absorb photons.When photons are directed at the cell, their electrons are separated out.Each of these cells has a positive and a negative side to it and forms an electrical circuit.When these electrons flow through the circuit, electricity is generated.The electricity generated by each cell may be small.There are thousands and millions of these cells in a solar panel. The watt energy produced is very high.Every cell produces electricity, and a group of cells makes solar panels.Solar panels may consist of anywhere from 32-96 cells.In such solar panels, each of these cells is assembled and connected to one another so that the electricity generated may be pooled.Now, small residences may need anywhere from 32-48 celled solar panels.For larger energy requirements, the manufacturers may suggest using 60 or even 72 celled solar panels.These solar panels are not small installations. 60-cell solar panels may be about 5 ft (1.5 m) tall and 3-3.5 ft (0.9-1.1 m) wide.Similarly, 72 celled solar panels can be about 6.5 ft (2 m) high!These photovoltaic panels generate direct current (DC) electricity.Most appliances need alternating current (AC) electricity.When you use a solar panel to generate electricity, you should also be using an inverter to convert DC current to AC current.A lot of homes and industries these days use solar energy as a reliable energy source to reduce their carbon footprint and bring down electricity bills too.It is common knowledge that any solar panel installation needs direct sunlight to start producing energy. So how do you get solar electricity at night?This is a very interesting and valid question. The simple answer to this is batteries.Such solar installations have internal batteries that keep getting charged throughout the day.The energy produced by these panels is equally dissipated between the appliances connected and the battery.At night, when the sun’s rays don’t reach the panels, the batteries kick in and they start discharging energy.Logically, the bigger the solar panel, the more energy you can produce.There are solar farms that can generate millions of kilowatts of energy every year.While small residences don’t have to invest in such expansive solar installations, they can install reasonably sized panels in their homes to produce power within their premises.Uses Of Solar CellHere are some interesting facts about this natural energy that we get from the sun:One of the most common reasons people install solar panels in their homes is for heating.People living in cold states need to spend a lot of money using traditional electricity to heat their homes.By installing silicon solar cell panels, you can bring down electricity costs considerably.A solar power plant can also be used to produce solar energy that can be used to power homes, commercial establishments, and industries.In most homes, it is common practice to install solar panels on the roof or open ground.It is important to ensure the solar panels receive direct sunlight for the most part of the day without any obstructions.For larger industries, solar energy generated by solar power plants may be installed to generate all or at least part of their energy needs.Did you know that the world’s largest solar plant, with hundreds of solar panels, is located in the Mojave Desert in California?California is the largest provider of solar energy in the United States.The solar power plant may emit carbon dioxide during the energy production process.It is safer to install these solar panels in open areas without a lot of human movement.In many places globally, solar energy is used to heat water and is connected directly to geysers or swimming pools.This means that you can get hot water in your taps and pools with the click of a button without worrying about the electricity bills.In cold places where there is a need for hot water every day, this is a very cost-effective solution.In houses that have attics, you can install solar attic fans to bring down your HVAC load during the summer.For homes that have an outdoor space, outdoor lighting becomes easy with solar power.There are light installations with a solar panel attached on top that can be fixed in your gardens and patios.These panels have small batteries to store the energy, and at night, you can switch on the light to make the place bright.Energy industry experts say solar-powered vehicles are the future.The panel keeps absorbing sunlight and creating electricity and this electricity helps run your AC, radio, and other components.If you own an electric car, solar energy may be converted into electric energy to actually charge your car batteries! This is not a widely used method though.Apart from all these, there are small ways that solar power can actually become a savior.A solar power USB charger can actually help keep your phone charged during camping or trekking.You can also use solar energy to heat water or cook during the day. This reliable source of energy can be tapped in so many different ways!Did you know that solar panels can last anywhere from 20-30 years?Even after 30 years, the panels will still produce electricity, except that the energy production may decrease. That’s a long time to use free electricity, isn’t it?According to the Energy Information Administration, the United States alone used 5.1 trillion hp (3.8 trillion kW) of electricity in 2020.When compared to 1950, this is 13 times the higher consumption value. This number is going to keep on increasing.That is why considering a cheaper and consistently available renewable energy source becomes important.Benefits Of Solar CellOne of the main advantages of solar power plants is their ability to tap into the sun’s energy effectively without depending on fossil fuels like the current energy system. Fossil fuels include coal, natural gas, and any fuel source that is found underground in limited quantities. Fossil fuels get depleted after a while, unlike the energy from the solar system, which is going to be available infinitely. Such non-renewable energy sources are also a burden to the earth, releasing excessive pollution.Here are some of the other benefits of using this eco-friendly source of energy.You can generate as much or as little energy as you want if you have a solar panel system installed on your premises.Apart from the initial cost of installation, there are zero production costs involved.Solar power production is really flexible. You can have a small panel installed to just power up one or more applications at home, or a large system that can power up your entire house.Did you know that it is possible to earn money with your solar panels?There is a concept called grid system where all homeowners who use solar energy direct their production to a common grid system.Now, these owners can use electricity from the grid.If your input is more than how much you use, you get paid for the excess generated!Such power grids are very secure too. You will still have power when the rest of your neighborhood goes through a power cut.Financially, you can save considerably with solar power.Experts say that you can get back the initial money spent on installation in three to five years, and after that, solar power is almost free electricity for the rest of your life.There is no doubt that solar energy is safer for the earth too.A solar panel does not release any harmful gases or chemicals into the atmosphere except for carbon dioxide and that by itself is a good thing for the earth.Studies show that air pollution due to the use of fossil fuels is responsible for one in every five deaths that happen on earth!You can bring this number down by switching to solar energy.Also, this renewable energy does not get depleted any time soon.So, you don’t have to feel bad about depleting resources for your future generations.Solar radiation will remain for as long as the earth survives!Most governments around the world are now encouraging their citizens to install solar panels in their homes.You may get various benefits for doing so. Such installations may also become compulsory after a while. So, the faster you adapt to this, the better it is.The maintenance costs of solar panels are literally low. All that you need to do is clean the panels with a clean cloth once in a while to prevent dirt accumulation and cut down tree branches or other obstructions that may cause a shade to fall on the panels.Economically too, solar panels and solar energy are great boosters.A single solar industry may provide job opportunities to hundreds of locals.If an individual has a plot that he wants to make money out of, renting or leasing it out to solar energy production industries is a smart thing to do. If the locality has a grid network in place, installing solar panels and feeding the energy to the grid is also an easy way to make consistent money!There are two things you also need to consider when you discuss the benefits of solar energy.Solar energy completely depends on sunlight. In places with minimal sunlight, your solar panels may not be able to produce as much electricity as you may want.The sun is, without a doubt, one of the biggest energy sources for the Earth and other planets around us. It only makes logical sense to tap into its huge and endless source of energy for our power needs. With time, the power requirements of the world are only going to increase, and as this happens, the sun may be our only hope to stay lit and powered.
Solar cells convert solar energy into electricity.
