How Does Solar Panels Convert Sunlight Into Electricity

A photovoltaic cell changes light into electricity.

How does solar panels convert sunlight into electricity.

Solar panels are made of dozens to hundreds of solar cells or photovoltaic cells which is what converts the sunlight to energy. A basic cell is around 1 100th of an inch thick with a wide range of surface areas. They can do this because of something called the photovoltaic effect. N for negative the other with a tiny amount of boron p type.

Photovoltaic solar panels absorb this energy from the sun and convert it into electricity a solar cell is made from two layers of silicon one doped with a tiny amount of added phosphorus n type. Solar panels plug you into the sun by absorbing solar energy with photovoltaic pv cells. Just like a sandwich it s the. But at the heart of each system is a simple conversion process.

A typical life span is over 25 years and there are cells in place that have produced electricity reliably for over 40 years. Photovoltaic is a term that describes the act of turning sunlight into energy. The bread on either side consists of thin strips of metallic electrodes.