23 Dec How do photovoltaic solar panels work?

Every day that passes we are getting used to the sight of solar panels all around us, on rooftops, in parking lots, covering entire mountains, etc. and we all know what they are for, but have you ever wondered how photovoltaic solar panels work ? How do they convert sunlight into energy? Today we want to tell you in the simplest way possible.

How do photovoltaic solar panels work?

To summarize, we could say that solar panels absorb photons, or light particles, through photovoltaic cells, generating direct current energy that is converted into alternating current by means of an inverter . The alternating current energy then flows through the electrical panel of the house or industry and is distributed accordingly.

But how is direct current energy generated? That’s where solar cells come in.

How do photovoltaic solar cells work?

First of all, it must be said that solar panels are formed by joining, by means of metallic conductors, cells or photovoltaic cells that, through the photovoltaic effect, absorb sunlight and generate a flow of electricity. These photovoltaic cells are layers of silicon , a semiconductor material that absorbs sunlight, “doped” with phosphorus and boron , to form two parts: one charged with negative electrons and the other with positive ones. When sunlight hits the solar panels, it excites the electrons, which produce a layer of positive charge and another of negative charge. The loose electrons generate an electric current and the metal plates on the sides of each solar cell collect these electrons and transfer them to the cables. In this way, we would already have direct current energy, but why do we need to convert it into alternating current?

Why do we need investors?

As we said, photovoltaic cells transform sunlight into direct current energy, but this has a regular flow and runs in only one direction. In contrast, alternating current has a power and direction that changes constantly with various intervals of valleys and peaks.

In addition, most household appliances require alternating current to operate and require a specific, well-regulated voltage. With alternating current, it is much easier to modify its flow and voltage.

That is why we need voltage inverters , which are responsible for changing the direction of direct current smoothly and constantly and converting it into alternating current. The electrons flow as electricity (direct current) through the wiring to a solar inverter, which converts the direct current into alternating current, and sends it through cables so that we can use it in our homes, industries, etc.

And once we have used the energy we need, what happens with the excess? You can either pour the excess electricity produced by your solar panels into the grid and request compensation for surpluses or store it in solar batteries for when your panels do not generate enough electricity. But we will talk about this in another post, although we invite you to see some of our installations of photovoltaic solar systems with compensation for surpluses .

We also invite you to visit our online store for solar components and panels and we are at your disposal for any questions you may have about solar panels and plates as we are experts in the installation of photovoltaic solar energy systems in Lleida, Huesca and the rest of the peninsula.