What are Solar Panels?
Solar panels, or popularly known as PV panels, are used to convert sunlight, consisting of energy particles called “photons,” into electrical energy that can be used to power electrical loads. In addition to generating electrical energy, solar panels are also used for remote power supply to cabins, telecommunication equipment, as well as remote sensing.
Solar panels and the energy they produce represent the cleanest form of energy produced today, without harmful effects on the environment.
How Solar Panels Work:
Solar panels collect clean renewable energy in the form of sunlight and convert that light into electrical energy that can be used for power supply. Solar panels consist of several individual solar cells, which themselves consist of layers of silicon, phosphorus (providing a negative charge), and boron (providing a positive charge).
Photovoltaic Effect:
Solar panels absorb photons, initiating an electric current. The resulting energy generated from photons striking the surface of the solar panel allows electrons to be ejected from their atomic orbits and released into the electric field created by the solar cells, which then draw these free electrons into a directed current. This entire process is known as the photovoltaic effect.
The power is then drawn from the battery to the inverter, which converts direct current into alternating current (AC) that can be used for all alternating current devices.
In off-grid solar applications, a battery, charge controller, and in most cases, an inverter are necessary components. The solar array sends direct current (DC) through the charge controller to the battery. Power is then drawn from the battery to the inverter, which converts direct current into alternating current (AC) that can be used for devices without direct current. With the help of the inverter, solar panel arrays can be sized to meet the most demanding requirements of electrical loads. AC power can be used to power loads in homes or commercial buildings, recreational vehicles and boats, remote cabins, cottages, or homes.
Advantages of Solar Panels:
Solar panels can enable you to live off-grid, meaning you can be completely independent of events such as power outages or even larger energy crises. Besides, perhaps the greatest benefit you would enjoy from using solar energy is that it is both a clean and renewable source of energy. With the emergence of global climate change, it has become more important to do everything we can to reduce pressure on our atmosphere due to greenhouse gas emissions. Solar panels have no moving parts and require little maintenance. They are sturdy and last for decades when properly maintained.
What is crucial among the advantages of solar panels and solar energy is that, once the system pays off its initial installation costs, the electrical energy it produces during the remaining life of the system, which can be up to 15-20 years depending on the quality of the system, is absolutely free!
How to Make Money from Solar Panels:
When you install solar panels on your house or build a solar power plant, the excess energy produced by the panels can be stored in the grid. Installing solar panels is an investment that can pay off in today’s energy crisis within 5 to 10 years, depending on the strength of the solar panels you install. If you use less energy than your solar electric system produces, you can store that surplus in the grid and use it when you have higher consumption; surplus is also carried over from month to month!
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