Overview
Solar panels are used to convert sunlight into electricity. They are also referred to as photovoltaics, or simply PVs, which basically means “light-energy.” PV panel technology can be used on a small scale or in larger-scale applications, such as on satellites. It’s not uncommon to see buildings or even houses with solar panels mounted on the roof. Since the sun is a renewable, free energy source, the concept of using solar panels to produce electricity has become widespread around the world.
The Facts
A typical solar panel used for home and business applications contains approximately 40 individual solar cells. An average size home would use between 10 and 20 of these 40-cell modules connected together to form a network of solar panels. The more solar panels connected together, the more electricity that is able to be produced. In home and business applications, solar panels are mounted facing south, which gives the panels the optimal amount of access to sunlight throughout the day.
History
The first solar panel design was called a “solar collector,” and it was invented by William J. Bailley of Carnegie Steel Company in 1908. This ground-breaking design used copper coils inside a box to trap sunlight. The first photovoltaic cell, which is what modern solar panels use, was created in 1954. Several telecommunications companies began powering their satellites with solar panels in the 1960s. By the 1980s, solar power plants were popping up across the United States and continue to do so.
Types
The most popular type of solar panel is the photovoltaic panel, which converts sunlight directly into electricity. Solar water heating panels are also popular choices, and these panels use the power of the sun’s heat to provide warm water for homes and businesses. Power plants use a type of solar panel called concentrated solar panels to produce large amounts of electricity; these panels are somewhat similar to photovoltaic panels, but they are more efficient and are used on a much larger scale.
Expert Insight
The U.S. Department of Energy explains how photovoltaic cells, or PV cells, actually work. Each individual PV cell can be a variety of sizes and shapes, from the size of a postage stamp up to several inches wide. These cells are grouped together to form PV modules, or solar panels, which are then grouped together to form PV arrays. When light hits the PV cells, electrons are captured and electricity is created. Less than 25 percent of the light is converted to electricity; the rest is absorbed or deflected.
Potential
A report by the U.S. Department of Energy offers a look into the future of solar power. They see a great potential in using solar power, especially in the Southwest United States, to utilize solar power on a large scale. An empty desert area approximately 10 by 15 miles in size could produce 20,000 megawatts of power using solar panel technology; this is comparable in scale to the hydro power operation in the Northwest. Furthermore, the price of photovoltaic power is getting more comparable with the cost of traditional electricity, so it’s becoming a much more viable choice.
About this Author
Joseph Eitel is a writer who has worked for a variety of online publications since 2006, including the Developer Shed Network and Huddle.net. He has become an online authority when it comes to technology and health; his health blog has become one of the most popular websites in the healthy living niche. He graduated from Kellogg Community College with a degree in graphic design.
