Solar power has been increasing in popularity in recent years due to rising energy prices and improvements to relevant technologies. Because these technologies are still relatively new, though, there is a lot of confusion regarding what they can and can’t do. Homeowners interested in installing a Solar Photovoltaic System in Hawaii who are interested in learning a little bit more about how solar panels work can read on for more information.
Harness the Energy of the Sun
Solar photovoltaic, or PV, cells are electrical devices that convert sunlight into electricity via a physical and chemical phenomenon known as the photovoltaic effect. They are comprised of many cells, each of which is capable of absorbing light and generating pairs of electrons known as excitons. When these pairs of electrons are separated and routed to an external circuit, they can be used to produce energy.
Silicon Semiconductors
The most commonly used material for photovoltaic systems is silicon. This material is applied in two layers, each of which is imbued with a different chemical electric charge. Generally one uses boron, while the other uses phosphorus.
These two layers of silicon direct the current of the electrons captured by the cell. This encourages the excited electrons to travel through the solar cells until they reach electrodes located at the end.
Energy Converted to DC Power
A series of many photovoltaic cells can be used to convert solar energy into DC, or direct current, electricity. This form of electricity can then be used as it is generated, or it can be stored in a battery bank. From there, it can be converted via an inverter into AC, or alternating current, electricity for regular use.
Most home appliances run on AC, rather than DC, power. A sufficient battery bank is thus indispensable for making use of the electricity generated by any Solar Photovoltaic System in Hawaii. Storing the energy produced by solar panels allows homeowners to use it at any time, including nighttime hours when there is no power currently being generated by the system.
Learn More Today
Homeowners interested in finding out how they can make use of this incredible, revolutionary technology can learn more online today. Click here for more information. You can also follow them on Twitter.
