How Solar Pv Panels Generate Free Electricity And Fight Climate Change

A photovoltaic or PV panel is a method used to generate electricity from sunlight. It is as simple as sunlight shining on a solar panel, producing electricity.

How PV Panels Work: There is an natural phenomenon called the photoelectric effect that allows energy to be generated from sunlight. Explaining exactly how the photoelectric effect happens is beyond the scope of this article. What we need to know is that sunlight shining on a semiconductor like silicon releases electrons to flow, and a flow of electrons is a current, that can be harnessed as energy.

So, all that is needed is a flat panel of semiconductor like silicon, and metal at each face of it to draw off the current. It's as simple as that! Obviously the amount of energy the solar panel produces is dependent on how much sun it receives. The greater the amount of sun, the greater the amount of energy it'll produce.

Solar PV panels are typically between 6%-14% efficient depending on the quality of silicon contained within them.

Reasons to Use Solar PV panels: The main benefit of course, is to save on electric bills. Whilst you're doing this you'll also reduce carbon emissions because you will be using clean energy. Solar PV cells can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.2 tonnes per year. The electricity being produced is not dependent on the power grid, and all your own. Home solar panels can be installed inexpensively and you can recoup the cost of building and installing one in your home within a few months.

You can even link your solar cells up to a battery, and charge it whilst the sun is shining and you are not at home, and draw upon the stored charge when you come home and start using electricity. Install several solar panels charging multiple batteries and you can create a system that can at time completely supplement your energy needs and reduce your electricity bills by up to 80%.

How To Install a Solar PV panel: You could either construct your own or buy a solar kit. Neither is particularly expensive, and both will require you to purchase further components, all cheaply available from your hardware store. The cost of a home solar panel should be approximately $300 or less, and it will generate energy for you throughout its lifetime so long as the sun is shining.

The key is to have the right knowledge, so purchase a guide to home renewable energy that specifically teaches you to construct a home solar panel. These guides typically come in a bundle with a guide to construct a home wind turbine as well.

So, constructing your own solar PV cell to power your appliances or your home is now a feasible, if not a fun project. The energy you will generate will save you money whilst reducing your dependence on polluting fossil fuels and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. You can save some cash and fight climate change at the same time!