Solar Energy Info

The Sun has produced energy for billions of years. Solar energy is the sun’s rays (solar radiation) that reach the earth. Solar energy can be converted into other forms of energy such as heat and electricity.
Solar energy can be converted to thermal (or heat) energy and used to:
Hot water – for use in homes, buildings or swimming pools;
Heat spaces – inside greenhouses, homes, and other buildings;
Solar energy can be converted to electricity in two ways:
Photovoltaic (PV devices) or “solar cells” – change sunlight directly into electricity. PV systems are often used in remote locations that are not connected to the electric grid. They are also used to power watches, calculators and lighted road signs.
Solar Power Plants – indirectly generate electricity when the heat from solar thermal collectors is used to heat a fluid which produces steam that is used to power generator.
The solar electric systems work on photovoltaic principle. The heart of the system is the solar cell. The single crystal silicon solar cells convert solar energy directly to electricity.
This electricity then charges the battery through a battery charger. The electrical energy thus stored in the battery is then utilized through inverter (DC to AC) or converter (DC to DC) for various purposes such as lighting, pumping and running of the TV.
A simple PV system is like any other electrical power – generating device except that the equipment used is different from that used in conventional electromechanical generating systems. The principles of operating and interfacing with other electrical systems remain the same and are guided by a well established body of electrical codes and standards.
The main systems distributed in the field are streetlights, domestic lights, water pumps, lanterns, electrical fencing, battery charger and village lighting systems. It is always better if these systems are used without battery storage unless it is a must.
Photovoltaic energy is conversion of sunlight into electricity. A photovoltaic cell, commonly called a solar cell or PV, is the technology used to convert solar directly into electrical power. A photovoltaic cell is a non mechanical device usually made from silicon alloys.
Sunlight is composed of photons, or particles of solar energy.
These photons contain various amounts of energy corresponding to the different wavelengths of the solar spectrum. When photons strike a photovoltaic cell, they may be reflected, pass right through, or be absorbed. Only the absorbed photons provide energy to generate electricity. When enough sunlight (energy) is absorbed by the material (a semiconductor), electrons are dislodged from the material’s atoms.