Introduction to Solar Power Panels

Solar Panels are one of the most popular forms of green energy because of their consistent output. Water and wind turbines require constant flows of water or wind to supply power, which is often difficult to come by, particularly in suburban and/or urban areas. Sunlight, on the other hand, is almost always available.

A solar panel works in a fashion similar to photosynthesis, whereas the panel, comprised of photovoltaic cells, converts sunlight into energy (in this case, electricity). Thus, the more solar panels you have, the more electricity you can generate. However, the intensity of the sunlight will also factor into how much electricity your solar panel array generates.

Typically, Solar Power Panels are connected to a battery (or multiple batteries) to store the electricity. This way, the power is available anytime you want it, such as at night, instead of just whenever the sun is shining. Though solar panels seem like they should be complicated, as is the case with many new forms of technology, they really are quite simple and thus easy to keep in working order.

If you’re interested in how a photovoltaic cell works, read on. The solar panel is comprised of a number of photovoltaic cells that are wired together, as just one or two cells typically won’t produce the desired amount of power. The cells are made up of two layers, one negative and one positive. When the sunlight hits the layers, they activate electrons that flow from the negative layer to the positive layer, creating an electrical current. Because this process repeats for as long as the sun remains out, the solar panels will continue to generate power all day long.

Even on an overcast or rainy day, solar panels can still generate power (albeit not as much as on a clear day), thus, they are likely to become the most popular form of alternative energy for home in the near future.