How Does Solar Energy Work? Essay

It's generated when the sunlight hits solar panels, which then transform sunlight in electricity suitable for our homes. This process of transformation is the way in which this energy is produced. We will analyze in depth how does solar energy works and how a domestic solar system harnesses the sun's energy.

The process of creating electricity from sunlight begins with the most important part of a solar installation: solar panels. Usually a panel is made of monocrystalline silicon, but it can also be found made of polycrystalline with a metal frame and all this inside a glass housing.

How solar panels work?

When the sun's rays reach the panels, they release electrons that are in the silicon atoms. Since electrons have a negative charge, this makes them physically go to only one part of the silicon cell. This effect produces a current of electricity that is stored by the panel components.

All this process mentioned above is known as 'photovoltaic effect', all the electrons that travel and are loose in sunlight are the fundamental piece in the energy produced by solar panels. The more sun rays hit the panels, the more electrons will be free, so it is important to consider factors such as shadow and local cloud cover.

Different types of panel can be more productive depending on their efficiency and quality. High quality solar panels will often cost a little more, but in long time it will save you money because it produces electricity more efficiently.

Investors convert solar panel energy into usable electricity

When the panels collect all the electrons, this produces an electricity known as direct current. This is the electricity we use to power devices, charge electric vehicles and turn on our lights. The electricity generated by loose silicon electrons is DC and must be transformed to AC before we can use it.

This conversion is done using devices called inverters. The inverters are very adaptable and can be configured in different ways, such as microinverters, also as a chain and optimizers to increase power, but they all fulfill their main and fundamental function, which is to transform DC electricity into AC. When the electricity has already been processed by the investors, it ceases to be DC and is transformed into AC. So, this energy can be used at home or in the general grid.

Different solar panel technologies

Almost all panels available in the market are made of crystalline silicon, but we can find different models:

Cadmium Telluride Solar Panels (CdTe)

CdTe panels use a material other than silicon. Although it don't have very high efficiency results, it can be seen that CdTe panels are capable of receiving sunlight at shorter wavelengths than typical silicon panels. This result is achieved with a higher percentage of efficiency, for the future this type of panel is a very viable option and will be of great performance.

Copper and indium diselenide solar panels (CIGS)

With greater efficiencies than CdTe panels, CIGS panels are a promising panel option. Unfortunately, this is an expensive technology and its price have prevented CIGS panels from reaching the general public.

Organic photovoltaic cells (OPV)

OPV cells use thin layers of organic vapor to produce electricity out of sunlight. We have not yet been able to see the optimal result of OPV cells because in no study has it revealed an optimal percentage of efficiency and has a very short estimated useful life if we compare it with other types of panels.

All these solar technologies fall under the umbrella of thin film panels, and are a very small part of the market in general. Probably in the future, these options dominate energy market, but for now silicon panels dominate the industry.

How is solar energy stored?

Energy storage, as its name implies, is responsible for storing a type of energy so that it can be used when necessary. But we are going to focus on the storage of electrical energy that is done through the electric batteries that are going to be used for the energy self-sufficiency of homes.

What is an electric battery?

It's the most recognized and popular energy storage system, which accumulates chemical energy through electrochemical cells that transform stored energy into electrical energy.

This technology has advanced so much that we can currently find batteries that are energy containers that allow energy to power a house that uses photovoltaic solar panels.

These batteries accumulate the energy that is achieved with the photovoltaic solar panels and make us able to use it whenever we want, even when panels are not obtaining energy to generate electricity.

Without the photovoltaic batteries we could not use electricity when we need it, so we could only use it during the day, and unfortunately the panels cannot generate energy 24 hours per day. So there can be no self-consumption without batteries.

How does grid connection work with solar panels?

It is interconnected to the network is simply a system that is connected to the public power grid and, therefore, uses electricity from both the solar panel system and the power grid. Because of this, an interconnected solar system does not have to meet all household electricity demands.

If necessary, the house can extract energy from the grid at times (such as on cloudy days or at night) when solar panels are not producing with maximum efficiency. In the same way, if more energy is generated than is necessary by the panels of a house, that excess energy will be fed to the network and will be paid.

A solar system interconnected to the network has several advantages:

Secure supply

There are days when the efficiency is not the best, due to storms or at night. However, many of our daily and nightly activities will continue to require the use of electricity. Here you simply use network power. Unlike systems isolated out the network could be run out of power.

Less electricity is wasted as a result and the efficiency of your system goes up. Except in the case of a blackout, there is always access to electricity during any time of the day, as long as your system is connected to the network.

Costs

To function properly, isolated systems in the network require more specialized equipment which makes them expensive quickly. Obviously, less equipment generally means lower installation and maintenance costs. This is the case of most systems connected to the network. Since the power grid functions as a battery for your system, you not only do not have to pay for the batteries, you do not have to pay for the maintenance that is involved with those batteries.

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Net measurement

The key concept to understand about a system tied to the network is that it gives you the ability to power the network during the day, when it is producing excessive power and using the network supply at night. The net measurement is a billing process that accredits the owners of systems connected to the network when they produce more energy than what they will consume.

The energy meter follows this exchange between your solar system and the network. Excessive power generation leads to your meter turning backward rather than forward, which gives you credit. The credit can be used to offset payments for future energy use.

How do solar panels work at night?

Solar panels do not produce energy at night. But that is not the end result. Solar panels offer two indirect nighttime energy solutions.

Solar panels work hard all day producing electricity. It also support sustainable solar energy solutions at night. You can continue to benefit from your energy production after sunset through net measurement and storage of the solar battery. So when you ask, how do solar panels work at night? These are the two indirect ways it can.

The connection to the grid with net measurement and the storage of the solar battery allow your solar energy system to provide electricity when your solar panels are at rest, so you can move around all day.

Net measurement keeps you connected

The connection of the installation of your solar panel to the power grid allows the net measurement. Where it is offered, the net measurement works as a savings account. When your solar panels produce excess electricity, it is deposited in the network.

In return, the electricity company gives you a refund or credits your bill. During the night, you can use the energy credits that you accumulated a long the day.

With the net measurement, it turns on when the panels do not produce power during the night. This bidirectional connection allows electricity to flow in and out of your home.

Solar battery storage offers energy freedom

A second way in which solar panels can indirectly power your home at night is by storing the battery. Solar batteries work overnight to maximize the daytime production of their panels.

Solar panels fill your battery with sun's energy. So, you have electricity stored for future use. With this solar energy stored, your battery provides energy throughout the night. Instead of sending excess electricity to the grid, save it for yourself.

First it will consume electricity from the solar battery storage before removing it from the grid. Installing a solar battery with its solar panels reduces your dependence on the obsolete network and allows you to reduce the cost of electricity bills reliably and keep it at low cost.

Network measurement and battery storage working in tandem

Today, most solar panel systems connect to the network and incorporate the net measurement where it is offered. In addition, homes are increasingly installing battery storage. These two indirect solutions can work together at night to maximize your energy security and minimize electricity bills.

You can program your battery to only extract electricity from the network once the battery is used up. Or, configure the net measurement and storage of the solar battery to work simultaneously.

How does solar energy affect the environment?

Like other renewable sources, it contributes to the development of energy that is less harmful to the environment.

Although most renewable sources of energy have good and bad effects on the environment, the proportion in which the negative effects occur is much smaller compared to fossil fuels.

The environmental impact is:

CO2 emissions: the generation of solar electricity does not require any type of combustion, so it does not produce any CO2 emissions, and does not promote global warming.

Water: Solar systems do not require water to generate electricity, so there is no alteration in the aquifers or pollution caused by waste.

Land: solar energy has no effect on the earth, however solar farms do require large areas of land to produce large-scale electricity, even if they do not occur negative effects on the land, the required space prevents the land from being used for another purpose, for this reason the EPA is working on locating solar energy projects in contaminated land or mining sites.

Noise: Photovoltaic systems are silent, so they are free of this type of contamination.

Geology: this technology usually use silicon, this element is obtained from sand. Because sand is a very abundant material and the quantities required are minimal, there are no topographic or structural changes in the terrain.

Solar energy benefits

It has numerous benefits that place it as one of the most promising. Renewable, non-polluting and available throughout the planet, it also contributes to sustainable development.

Likewise, the simplicity of this technology makes it ideal for use in isolated network points, rural areas or difficult to access.

It is also useful for generating large-scale electricity and injecting it into a network, especially in geographical areas whose meteorology provides abundant hours of sunshine per year.

The solar collection modules require a relatively simple maintenance which, together with the progressive and accelerated decrease in the cost of photovoltaic cells, explain the favorable prospects currently available for solar technology. In addition, solar plants do not emit polluting gases and are extremely quiet.