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You are here: Home / Self Sufficiency / Energy & Power / How Solar Panels Work | The Science Behind Solar Heating

How Solar Panels Work | The Science Behind Solar Heating

Reading Time: 2 minutes

May 26, 2023 By Riley E. Carlson 5 Comments

Want to know how solar panels work? How exactly do they gather all that heat and convert it into energy? Let’s find out!

solar panel, solar panels, solar panels for home, diy solar panels, home solar panels, solar panels for homes, residential solar panels
image via eartheasy

How Solar Panels Work

Solar panels are a great way to harness the earth’s natural resources to power our man-made machinery. You can use them to be self-sufficient and start living off-grid. You may have tried a couple of DIY solar panel tutorials and even learned the proper way of installing them, but do you know how they work? It’s always been something I’m curious about so when I found this infographic, I knew it was something I had to share. So scroll on and see how solar panels work with this helpful animated infographic.

The Science Behind Solar Panels

Please include attribution to SaveOnEnergy.com with this graphic.

How solar panels work

Thank you SaveOnEnergy for this added knowledge!

 

How Solar Panels Work

Anatomy of a Solar Cell

Solar Cell

  • Protective glass
  • Silicon (N-type)
  • Conductive metal base
  • Conductive metal contact
  • Silicon (P-type)

Why Silicon?

|

Silicon is a semi-conductor. It can either conduct electrons or insulate them, depending on the situation.

  • Silicon atoms have four outer electrons that form a stable crystal structure when bonded.
  • Mixing silicon with elements that have a different number of electrons creates an unbalanced structure.
  • Boron has three outer electrons. When mixed with silicon, it creates a hole in the structure.
  • The holes are mobile and carry a positive charge, resulting in P-type silicon.
  • Phosphorus has 5 outer electrons. Silicon bonds tightly to 4 of those electrons, leaving the fifth to roam free.
  • The free electrons carry a negative charge, creating N-type silicon.

The P-N Junction

P-N Junction
image source

When P-type and N-type silicon are layered together, some of the electrons and holes come together, forming an electric field.

The electric field repels the free holes and electrons and keep them from moving between layers.

Enter Sunlight

Sunlight and Solar Power
image source

The energy from sunlight disrupts the bonds in both P-type and N-type silicon, creating free-roaming electrons and holes in both layers.

Free electrons and holes zapped loose by sunlight are forced back into their proper later.

If you connect both layers with a circuit, attractive force will drive the excess electrons and holes together, creating an electric current.

What Next?

Solar cells generate direct current (DC), but most appliances run on alternating current (AC). DC runs from the solar cells through an inverter for use in homes.

Wasn’t that amazing? What do you think about the process on how solar panels work? Let us know below in the comments!

Filed Under: Energy & Power, Solar Power Tagged With: how does solar power work, solar power, solar power technology, sustainability, what is solar power

Comments

  1. CaptTurbo says

    February 7, 2018 at 7:19 AM

    I’m just glad they do work. I have 44 PV panels and one solar thermal panel on my roof for my hot water. Solar power rocks!

    Reply
  2. Off Grid FL Prepper says

    December 21, 2019 at 4:20 PM

    Photo voltaic solar panels to NOT collect heat. Your headline is very misleading and makes you look dumb. Solar Panels collect sun rays and convert the energy into 12V DC power. Passive solar collects heat in a thermal mass collector, like a black slate floor behind a southern facing direction.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How Solar Panels Work | The Science Behind Solar Heating | Homesteading Simple Self Sufficient Off-The-Grid • realestate.10ztalk.com says:
    November 13, 2019 at 1:42 PM

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  2. How Solar Panels Work | The Science Behind Solar Heating | Best Craft Hacks says:
    May 26, 2023 at 6:13 PM

    […] Read the full article here […]

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