Solar panels

The basic concept for a solar panel, is to turn solar energy into electricity. This is useful due to, solar energy being a renewable energy source. Unlike solar collectors, solar panels can turn solar energy into electricity.

Now, let's get into the how of it!

The solar panel itself doesn't turn solar energy into electricity. It uses solar cells to do this. The only problem is that solar cells produce a small amount of energy. Therefore, we need to group quite a few of solar cells, and then we create the solar panel.

The question is, how do solar cells work?

Inside the solar cell, we have two kinds of wafers- thin layers of silicon, placed on top of each other. Note that this two silicons are different. The top layer has been modified to be negative, because it has a surplus of electrons, and we call N type. The bottom layer has been modified to be positive, because it has a lack of electrons, and we call it P type. You might notice that these two silicons complement each other. One has a surplus of electrons while the other wants electrons. The setup is ready to go. However, we are missing one thing. The electrons in the silicon crystals can't move until being exposed to light.

The panel, once exposed to light, the photons will excite the electrons in the N type silicon which will do that the electrons jump and are move to the P type silicon. This creates DC (Direct Current), and then we have electricity. However, our electricity is used in AC type (Alternating Current) so they have to pass an inverter.