A solar cell panel, solar electric panel, photo-voltaic (PV) module or solar panel is an assembly of photo-voltaic cells mounted in a framework for installation. Solar panels use sunlight as a source of energy to generate direct current electricity. A collection of PV modules is called a PV panel, and a system of PV panels is called an array. Arrays of a photovoltaic system supply solar electricity to electrical equipment.
Also known as single-crystal panels, these are made from a single pure silicon crystal that is cut into several wafers. Since they are made from pure silicon, they can be readily identified by their dark black color. The use of pure silicon also makes monocrystalline panels the most space-efficient and longest-lasting among all three solar panel types.
When sunlight hits the silicon semiconductor, enough energy is absorbed from the light to knock electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely.
As the name implies, these come from different silicon crystals instead of one. The silicon fragments are melted and poured into a square mold. This makes polycrystalline cells much more affordable since there is hardly any wastage, and gives them that characteristic square shape .However, this also makes them less efficient in terms of energy conversion and space, since their silicon purity and construction are lower than monocrystalline panels
These solar panels are made of multiple photovoltaic cells. Each cell contains silicon crystals which makes it function as a semiconductor device. When the photons from the sunlight fall on the PN junction (junction between N-type and P-type materials), it imparts energy to the electrons so that they can flow as electric current. Here, P-type materials are deficient in electrons while N-type materials have an abundance of electrons. Two electrodes are connected with the PV cells. The electrode that is on the top surface contains small wires while the electrode on the bottom is a foil-like conductor.
PERC solar panels are built with PERC cells, which have an additional layer on the back of the traditional solar cells. This additional layer allows more sunlight to be captured and turned into electricity, making PERC cells more efficient than traditional cells.
While the recombination of the e-h pair under the aforementioned circumstances is the regular process generating an electric current for traditional solar cells, there is also another type of recombination called surface recombination, which produces losses for traditional crystalline silicon technology. The surface recombination process occurs when a hole combines with an excited electron that did not go through the contact. This recombination process translates as a reduced solar cell efficiency since the e-h pair combines without generating an electric current or solar power.
Thin-film panels are characterized by very fine layers that are thin enough to be flexible. Each panel does not require a frame backing, making them lighter and easier to install. Unlike crystalline silicon panels that come in standardized sizes of 60, 72, and 96-cell counts, thin-film panels can come in different sizes to suit specific needs. However, they are less efficient than typical silicon solar panels.
Conventionally, many solar cells silicon are in the form of n-type and p-type layers. In current technology, thin films contain CIGS or CdTe. The primary element of thin-film cells is a semiconductor photovoltaic cell. Phosphorous covers the semiconductor, which develops free electrons (n-type), and another semiconductor covered with gallium, boron, or indium creates a vacancy. The vacancy is called holes, and it’s known as P-type material.When these two types join, they take a photovoltaic cell. In cases where there is no light, only a small number of atoms are excited moving across the junction. But when there is light, more and more atoms are excited flowing through the junction, which causes a large output of current. You can use a rechargeable battery to store the energy, and it can be used for various applications.
1.Panasonic 2. LG 3.Canadian Solar 4. Trina Solar 5. SunPower
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