Solar Energy Using Solar Panels

Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the sun that is harnessed using a range of ever evolving technologies such as solar heating photovoltaics solar thermal energy solar architecture molten salt power plants and artificial photosynthesis.

Solar energy using solar panels.

Although it sounds complicated and expensive such a system is relatively simple in concept. In such cells a small electric voltage is generated when light strikes the junction between a metal and a semiconductor such as silicon or the junction between two different semiconductors. Since 2014 the number of k 12 schools in the u s. Using solar power increased by roughly 81 percent and now more than 5 3 million kids and teens go to a school using solar energy according to a new report.

When the sun shines onto a solar panel photons from the sunlight are absorbed by the cells in the panel which creates an electric field across the layers and causes electricity to flow. Solar energy attracts people in large part because of its many benefits ranging from significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to increasing home value by an average of 15 000. These are the panels you ve seen on rooftops or in fields. The second technology is concentrating solar power or csp.

Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun s energy and make it useable. Solar panels lined with polycrystalline silicon which reacts to sunlight by generating a small electrical charge are linked together on a roof or on open land facing the sun. Currently solar panels are one of the more easily accessible forms of renewable energy. As of 2011 the technology produced less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand.

Even if your solar array only has 10 solar panels you ll always have enough to charge your car s battery and keep the lights on in the house. Solar radiation may be converted directly into electricity by solar cells photovoltaic cells. Simply put photovoltaic solar panels create electricity by converting radiant sunlight into usable electrical power via a phenomena coined the photovoltaic effect they work by using individual solar cells pv cells that contain a photovoltaic material that converts energy from the sun into a flow of electrons. Yes solar energy can power your entire home.

Most solar systems can generate enough electricity to power your household and charge an electric car at the same time. Learn more about how pv works.