Otis Singleton
Solar power is a popular form of renewable energy that converts energy from the sun into electricity. This process, known as the photovoltaic effect, was discovered in 1954 by Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson, who developed the silicon photovoltaic cell. This technology is used in solar panels, which are made of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. The cells are composed of semiconductor materials, typically silicon, which generates an electric current when exposed to light. When sunlight hits the solar panel, the energy is absorbed by the photovoltaic cells, and the photons from the solar radiation knock electrons loose, creating an electric current. This electricity is then converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) by an inverter, allowing it to be used to power appliances through wall sockets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Solar energy type | Photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) |
| PV cell composition | Two layers of a semiconductor material, usually silicon |
| PV cell function | Converts light directly into electricity |
| PV cell process | Photons from solar radiation knock electrons loose in the semiconductor material and set them free from the atoms. The freed electrons migrate to the surface of the PV cell, creating an electrical current. |
| PV cell current type | Direct current (DC) |
| DC electricity conversion | Converted to alternating current (AC) by an inverter |
| AC electricity use | Used when plugging appliances into normal wall sockets |
| CSP function | Uses mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect solar energy and convert it to heat |
| CSP heat use | Used to produce electricity or stored for later use |
| CSP use | Used primarily in very large power plants |
| Solar panel rate of electricity generation | Depends on the amount of direct sunlight and the quality, size, number and location of panels in use |
| Largest producer of solar-powered electricity generation | China |
| Second-largest producer of solar-powered electricity generation | US |
| Solar power | A renewable and limitless energy source |
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Photovoltaic cells
Photovoltaic (PV) cells, commonly called solar cells, are non-mechanical devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity. They are the basic building blocks of a PV system. PV cells are electrically connected in a packaged, weather-tight PV panel (sometimes called a module). Solar panels are usually made from silicon or another semiconductor material installed in a metal panel frame with a glass casing.
The first practical PV cell was developed in 1954 by Bell Telephone researchers. However, the history of solar power goes back much further. As early as the 7th century BC, humans used sunlight to light fires by reflecting the sun's rays onto shiny objects. In 1839, French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel discovered the photoelectric effect, which is the process by which solar cells convert sunlight into electrical energy. In 1883, American inventor Charles Fritts built the first solar cell, which had an efficiency of 1%. In 1905, a 26-year-old German called Albert Einstein explained the photoelectric effect in an article, and in 1921 he received the Nobel Prize for his work.
In 1954, the Bell laboratory in the US discovered that silicon semiconductors doped with certain impurities are hypersensitive to light, and efficiency increased to 6%. This led to the development of the first silicon PV cell, capable of absorbing and converting enough of the sun's energy into power to run everyday electrical equipment. Today, satellites, spacecraft orbiting Earth, and even cars are powered by solar energy.
PV cells and panels produce the most electricity when they are directly facing the sun. PV panels and arrays can use tracking systems to keep the panels facing the sun, but these systems are expensive. Most PV systems have panels in a fixed position that is usually facing south in the northern hemisphere and north in the southern hemisphere.
When sunlight hits a solar cell, the photovoltaic effect occurs, generating an electrical current. This is made possible by the unique properties of the semiconductor materials used in solar cells, typically silicon. When photons from the sun's rays strike the surface of the solar cell, they can be absorbed by the semiconductor material. This absorption provides energy to generate electricity. The energy of the photons excites electrons, creating "electron-hole pairs". The built-in electric field of the semiconductor material separates these pairs, forcing the electrons to flow in one direction and the holes in the opposite direction. This flow of electrons constitutes an electrical current, which can be harnessed and utilised as electricity.
The efficiency of commercially available PV panels averaged less than 10% in the mid-1980s, increasing to around 15% by 2015. Today, they are approaching 25% efficiency for state-of-the-art panels. Experimental PV cells and cells for niche markets, such as space satellites, have achieved nearly 50% efficiency. The proliferation of PV technology is helping to create green jobs and drive the sustainable development of the economy.
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Solar panels
The amount of sunlight that a solar panel receives directly impacts the amount of electricity it generates. Solar panels can be tilted to capture the most sunlight at the optimal angle for the best efficiency. The angle usually matches the latitude of the location. The more sunlight that reaches the solar panels, the more energy they generate, which means they generate more or less electricity at different times of the day and year.
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Solar radiation
The use of solar energy to generate electricity has been a practice for thousands of years, with early examples including the use of sunlight to light fires and for religious ceremonies. However, the discovery of the photovoltaic effect is credited to French physicist Edmond Becquerel in 1839. The development of silicon PV cells capable of converting solar energy into usable electricity began in 1954, and today, solar power is a rapidly growing source of clean, renewable energy.
Solar panels are typically made of silicon or other semiconductor materials installed within a metal frame and protected by a glass casing. The metal frame provides structural support and protects the panel from weather-related damage, while the glass cover allows sunlight to pass through while shielding the cells from the elements. The efficiency of solar panels is influenced by factors such as temperature and shading, with cooler panels and adequate sunlight exposure producing more electricity.
Solar PV technology is a significant component of solar energy systems, but another method is concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP). CSP systems use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight, converting it into heat that can be used to produce electricity. CSP is commonly employed in very large power plants, while solar PV systems are more versatile, ranging from residential rooftops to expansive solar farms.
The sun provides an abundant and infinite source of energy, and the use of solar power offers a means to generate electricity without producing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. With advancements in solar panel technology, individuals, businesses, and organizations like NESO are increasingly adopting solar power to work towards carbon-neutral goals.
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Solar thermal power
There are two types of solar thermal systems: passive and active. A passive system requires no equipment, like when heat builds up inside a car parked in the sun. An active system requires a way to absorb and collect solar radiation and then store it. Solar thermal power plants are active systems. They use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight, and receivers to collect the solar energy and convert it to heat. This heat can be used to heat water for homes or to produce electricity.
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Solar farms
Solar panels use the photovoltaic (PV) effect to convert sunlight into electricity. The photovoltaic effect refers to the transformation of light into electrical energy. When the sun's energy hits the surface of a solar panel, it releases electrons, creating an electric charge or direct current (DC). An inverter then converts this DC electricity into alternating current (AC), which is the type of electrical current used in homes and businesses.
As of 2022, China is the largest producer of solar-powered electricity, followed by the US, Japan, Germany, and India. The UK government aims to decarbonize its electricity system by 2035, with plans to significantly increase solar generation capacity.
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Frequently asked questions
Solar panels are made from silicon or another semiconductor material installed in a metal panel frame with a glass casing. When exposed to sunlight, the photons from the solar radiation knock electrons loose in the semiconductor material, creating an electric charge. This electric charge creates an electric current, which is captured by the wiring in solar panels.
Solar panels are made of photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are made of two layers of a semiconductor material, usually silicon.
Solar panels do not require heat to generate electricity, but rather light from the sun. Therefore, solar panels can still generate electricity on cloudy days, although not as efficiently as on sunny days.
The UK generates more solar power than some sunnier countries like France and is in the top 10 worldwide of countries producing solar PV.
Solar power is a renewable and limitless energy source that does not create harmful greenhouse gas emissions, unlike the burning of fossil fuels.
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