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Solar Power Panels: Basic Overview

Solar power panels are definitely becoming popular. People are starting to move into the direction of finding ways to conserve the world's natural resources and the sun's unlimited energy is becoming an increasingly attractive option. With other issues such as economic problems, and climate change, people will need to study up on renewable energy management and sustainable energy development so as to counter the growing dilemma that this world is facing. A solar powered panel is a great way to harness solar energy, and it ultimately contributes to the conservation or minimal usage of other energy sources.

Quick Basics

Solar powered panels are simply collections of solar cells interconnected with each other to form a series of devices that work together to convert sunlight into a usable form of energy. A solar panel is also known as a PV (photovoltaic) module. A series of PV modules is what's called as a PV array. To simplify: A series of linked solar cells is called a PV module, while a series of linked PV modules is called a PV array. People often use PV arrays so that they'd be able to harness the full benefits of the sun's power.

Inside The Solar Cells

Through the use of solar concentrators (which are varied in category as either reflectors or lenses), sunlight is collected by them, and focused onto the PV modules, then straight into the solar cells. Inside the solar/PV cells are special materials called silicon, which are basically the semiconductors. These are the ones which are commonly used nowadays by most solar panel manufacturers. When sunlight is focused by the solar concentrators, it strikes the cell and collects and absorbs a significant amount of it into the silicon material. In basic scientific terms, the energy of the collected sunlight is basically transported to the silicon semiconductor.

The Silicon

Silicon basically has no positive or negative charge and therefore does not generate electricity by itself. Silicon only generates electricity when you combine it with other elements that do have a negative/positive charge. To create the negative charge, a silicon material can be combined with phosphorus (a non-metallic nitrogen element) in order to create electrons. With the negative charge, the silicon would also need to have the positive charge, which can be created if you combine the silicon material with boron (a metalloid element). Solar power panels are basically made up of solar cells that have silicon materials combined with boron and phosphorus. Two plates of silicon are commonly used with wires inserted in between them.

Photons

Sunlight basically has many particles of energy. One of these is what's called a photon and that's basically the one used by the solar cells in the PV modules. The photon acts like a hammer which bombards the atoms inside the silicon material. The result is that a free electron is eventually knocked off of the outer ring when the photons begin hammering down on the atoms. This reaction creates electricity and it continues its production as the photons proceed with its bombardment and knocking out even more electrons in the process. As long as the photons in the sunlight keep hitting the solar panel, the silicon material inside the solar cell will keep on producing energy in the form of electricity.

Efficiency

A single solar cell won't be enough to create a usable form of DC (direct current) electricity. That's why an array of cells is used in order for it to generate enough power. People use numerous arrays of solar cells in order to create a large enough PV module. However, some people just go with PV arrays that are newer in design and structure.

Solar Concentration

Older designs of PV modules used to have lots of cells and were therefore very expensive to purchase. However, the newer designs are equipped with improved solar concentrators that can better focus the sun's rays into the solar cells, making them very affordable. Solar panel manufacturers basically price their products on the amount of solar cells installed into them. These new designs are even more effective than the older ones that had a lot of solar cells in them simply because of the effectiveness of the new solar concentrators. In short, you don't really need more cells, just better concentrators.

Fresnel Lenses

Although there are many forms of solar concentrators, the most commonly used one happens to be the Fresnel lens. It was originally created for use in lighthouses so as to better focus the light during nighttime. Nowadays, it has many applications. One of these applications is in solar power systems such as PV modules and arrays. Mainly used by the PV panels in space shuttles and satellites, they are an effective tool for concentrating sunlight into the solar cells. Most solar panels basically use Fresnel lenses because they're a lot cheaper. Some newer designs of Fresnel lenses are even better than larger solar concentrators even though they're smaller.

Benefits

The overall benefit of using PV modules and arrays is basically that you can save a lot of money in the long run. To be more specific, read below.

• Fuels have ridiculous prices. With PV modules, you can minimize your fuel usage. Gas, oil, etc, can be replaced by solar energy provided by the PV modules you install.
• Your electric bills can drop 50 percent to nearly zero. If you choose to go with solar power exclusively, you won't have to worry anymore about that monthly payment to your local electric company.
• They're easy to maintain. You won't have to worry about your PV modules breaking down as long as you have the common sense of protecting them from extreme weather.

Solar power panels are definitely one of the answers to the world's current environmental and economical problems. Solar power is certainly becoming a trend because of people who are becoming more and more environmentally aware each day.