Saturday, June 16, 2012

Solar Power Cells And Energy

By Richard Hardy

Solar energy is often seen as the "energy of the future." Solar panels, the devices used to convert power from the sun to electricity, are becoming more and more efficient. Today's panels can now be tied to the power grid, or they can be "off grid" with the help of battery or wind turbine power. Solar power cells are the key to this electricity generation.

Solar panels are made up of solar cells. The cells are placed in neat lines and rows on the panel. This type of cell can also be referred to as a "module, " which is a cell that is connected to others as a unit. Electrical power is created from these cells, which is an efficient and eco-friendly version of energy.

The cells are all forms of photovoltaic (PV) cells. PV cells use semiconductors in their creation of energy. These work by taking light from the sun and converting it into energy. This energy can then make electrons move around, which creates a current. This can be removed from the cells by a metal conductor.

Not all cells are the same. However, the most common cell is made out of silicon.

Polysilicon cells are the familiar blue cells that are seen almost everywhere nowadays. Because they are thicker, they absorb more energy. One issue with them, however, is that they must remain flat in order to not break. This means that they cannot be used for certain purposes.

Thin film solar panels absorb less light than polysilicon cells because of their thinness. However, the panels are flexible, which means that they may have many purposes. They can also be made more efficient by placing a bunch of them together.

While solar energy is sustainable (or can be used without negative environmental effects), it does have negative aspects. For one, it requires sunlight to work, but some places do not have year-round sunlight. However, it remains an efficient form of alternative energy.

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