Solar Panels are considered to be the most affordable renewable sources of energy available in abundance today.
We are all privy to the purpose they serve but have you ever wondered how they are able to perform their primary function? If you were at all curious about how solar panels produce energy, then consider yourself in luck.
As leading solar panel dealers in India, you can bet we know a lot about solar energy and the technology that is used to harness it.
Before we shed light on this question, however, it would be wise to first understand the components that power a solar panel.
Key Components of a Solar Panel
Most solar panels across the globe use silicon, which is one of the most ubiquitous elements found on earth. Building silicon crystals aren’t really cheap.
This is why many solar panels, especially those used in households, are made from relatively cheaper materials like copper, indium, etc. Although not as efficient as silver, they prove sufficient to produce enough energy to power up a residential complex.
For the sake of this article, however, we’ll only be focusing on panels that are manufactured using solar crystalline cells.
So a typical solar panel is made of 6 key components
- Photovoltaic Cells
- Polymer rear back sheet
- Toughened Glass
- Extruded Aluminum frame
- EVA Film Layers
- Diodes and connectors.
How Solar Panels Work
The photovoltaic cells that make solar panels are mainly responsible for absorbing sunlight and then converting them into energy. These cells are sandwiched between layers upon layers of semi-conducting elements like silver. Each of these layers possesses different electronic properties that are activated when the photons from sunlight directly hit them.
This is what results in the creation of an electric field, which we also know as the photoelectric effect. It is this effect that produces the current necessary to create electricity. This current is then sent through an inverter to convert into AC (alternating current). This generating alternating current can then be used by homes or fed into the national grid to serve its purpose.
Factors that Affect Solar Energy Production
Solar panels may sometimes not work to their fullest potential. This could be due to several external factors rather than a fault with the panel themselves.
Following are three major factors that may affect energy production
i) Weather
Depending on the weather, solar energy production will also vary season after season. For instance, energy production will be lower during cloudy and rainy days as compared to days that are sunny.
ii) Shade
If there is a tree or building blocking sunlight from directly falling onto the panels, then you are going to have a problem generating electricity. Make sure your roof isn’t sun-deprived.
iii) Direction of Home
The direction of your home, and its location will greatly influence solar energy production. Solar panels should also be mounted at the same angle as the latitude for high efficiency.
As leading solar panel distributors in India, we know what makes solar panels efficient. We suggest you give us at Oriana a call to power your residential and commercial buildings with the help of robust, high-end solar panels.
