What Is PV Solar Power?

 
PV solar power is totally different from other types. Of the 2 primary categories of solar power, active and passive, PV solar power is active. Let's look at it.

Solar Panel

Active solar energy depends on solar panels. You might picture them as flat, rectangular boxes on rooftops.

You will find two main types of solar panel. From a distance, both seem like rectangular boxes. Both convert sunlight into energy, but in two totally different ways. The terms for the 2 solar panel varieties are solar thermal collector as well as photovoltaic module.

1. Solar thermal collector: This solar panel takes in solar energy from the sun and uses it to heat air or water.

2. Photovoltaic module: This second kind of solar panel collects solar power and converts it to usable electrical energy.

Meet the PV

To answer the question, what's PV solar power, we must know what the PV is. The short answer is that PV refers to a photovoltaic module. "P" is actually for photo and "V" for voltaic.

In simple words, "photo" pertains to rays from the sun and "voltaic" pertains to electrical energy. PV panels convert sunlight into electrical energy. Sunlight flows into the solar panel. Electric power flows out of the solar panel.

A PV solar panel is actually made up of a lot of photovoltaic (light to volts) cells. These specific cells are electrically connected, and then covered with glass. The glass provides electrical insulation. It is also good protection from weather conditions and different harmful forces.

When minimal energy is required, such as that necessary to power a small appliance, a single PV solar panel is sufficient. When much more energy is required, an "array" of solar panels is created by attaching panels to one another. If the power will not be supplied to the power grid, the solar panel(s) is connected to a charge controller, and battery. If it is intended for on-grid use, the solar panel array would be linked to an electrical inverter.

What Is PV Solar Energy?

Typical silicon solar panels transform approximately 14 to 17 percent of sunlight into usable electricity. That isn't much. Late in 2006, though, a brand new photo voltaic cell was launched. Solar panels that make use of the new cell can convert into electricity 22 percent of the daylight they gather. Theoretically, the most that the cells of a solar panel can convert is claimed to be approximately 26 to 27 percent of incoming sunlight.

How does it work? Let's look at a very simple explanation.

Every solar cell in a PV photo voltaic panel is a semiconductor. When rays from the sun hits these cells, a certain part of the sunlight is absorbed by those silicon cells. The cells take in that part of the sunlight's energy. The cells then transfer the absorbed daylight's power to the electrons within the silicon. The electrons begin to circulate, and this creates an electrical current. Metal contacts built into the top and bottom of the PV cells draw off that current and it is dispatched to the grid or battery. It's now usable electrical energy. The power grid sends it on its way, when you have used an on-grid connection. In case you are using a battery, it is stored in the battery awaiting your need.

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