Solar Energy

Solar Electric or Photovoltaic (PV) Panels are used to collect energy from the sun and convert it into electricity.

This is done through the Photovoltaic Effect, the basic physical process that allows a PV cell to convert sunlight to electricity.

Solar Panels

Sunlight is composed of photons, or particles of solar energy. These photons exist in sunlight everywhere, and the amount of energy in each photon depends on the wavelength that they exist in.

Photovoltaic Effect

When photons strike a PV cell, they may be reflected, absorbed, or they may pass through.

Only those photons that are absorbed into the PV cell generate electricity.

The photons absorbed by the PV cell depend upon the wavelength of the photon, and the composition of the PV cell itself, as it is designed to absorb certain photons.

Photovoltaic Effect

Once absorbed, the photon’s energy is transferred to the electron of an atom in the PV cell. • With this new energy, the electron may escape the atom and become “free.”

Photovoltaic Effect

The electron will then move easily along a conductor.

The PV cell is a semiconductor device

These freed electrons become part of the current in an electrical circuit

Photovoltaic Effect

The thin wires you see in solar cells and modules are conducting wires for the electrical circuit.

The PV cells have a built-in electric field to provide voltage needed to drive the current though an external load.

Photovoltaic Effect

PV Cells

PV Cell PV Module

PV Panel

PV Cells

Using the DECK website, students will observe, graph, and analyze solar energy data for a chosen day.

Then, they will calculate energy produced and compare their calculations with the website.

DECK Monitoring Project