Sunlight energy is slowly becoming more popular as an alternative source of electricity. It is good for the environment, and is a potential answer to the problem of fossil fuels running out. But few people really know much about how it works, other than being powered by the sun. This article will give some information on the solar panel, how it is made, and its various uses. Hopefully after understanding a bit more about it you will be better able to decide if it may be worth your investment.

What They Are

In essence, solar panels are a collection of photosensitive cells arranged in a grid-like pattern to collect energy from the sun and turn it into electricity. Most of the time they are made of crystalline silicon and gallium arsenide. It is possible to make much more sensitive and efficient solar cells, such as for NASA projects of high importance, and these are made by a process which makes each part of the cell specifically sensitive to one part of the spectrum. These are made by using only gallium arsenide. However, the high cost and effort involved in producing these makes it very impractical for normal use.

How They Work

Each cell is basically an electricity semiconductor. When exposed to sunlight, light particles known as photons strike the cells. This creates energy which can knock electrons out of orbit in individual atoms, much like throwing a ball at a wall can vibrate a shelf leaning on that wall and make something fall off of it. When these electrons are released they are thrown into a new directional orbit, created by the electrical field made by the now imbalanced atoms. This in turn generates electricity when it hits the metal conductors on the panel.

Factors Affecting Output

Of course, it is obvious that cloudy or rainy days will affect the amount of electricity that can be produced, as will the size of the panel or the amount of cells included. But aside from these factors, there are other things as well. The first is simply the quality of the panel. Just like any other product, they come in varying prices and grades, made out of somewhat different materials to be more or less efficient. Another is the part of the world you are in. The more direct sunlight you have, and the more radiation that hits you, the more energy you will see. This is partly determined by proximity to the equator, but also your position horizontally. New Mexico, for instance, has much more direct radiation than southern Florida.

This has been a brief overview of the solar panel and how it functions. Overall, they are good for the environment, energy efficient, and continually dropping in price as their popularity grows. However, they do have limitations. If you live, for instance, in a region that is generally cloudy and in a low radiation point, this kind of energy may not be right for you. Hopefully this information will leave you a little more informed and better ready to decide if it is right for you.

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