WHAT IS A SOLAR PANEL AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

A solar panel is an assembly of solar cells that can convert light directly into electricity. A family’s electricity needs can be covered by combining the capacity of several solar panels. Depending on the type of panel, 5 to 19 % of the light energy can be converted into electricity. This is known as the output of the panel. As the technology is constantly being improved, the output should increase further. Using solar panels, we can convert sunlight, which is free and inexhaustible, into electricity. This conversion is achieved thanks to the so-called “semiconductor” material from which each solar cell is made.

Two generations of solar panels

The material most often used for solar cells is silicon. This material can occur in three forms:

•     Monocrystalline silicon

•     Polycrystalline (or multicrystalline) silicon

•     Amorphous silicon

These various forms produce different types of solar panels with differing prices, useful lives and output:

•     First-generation solar panels use monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon (output of 12 to 19 %).

•     Second-generation solar panels consist of solar cells made of amorphous silicon. This name also applies to solar panels based on other materials that have appeared on the market more recently:

•     CIS (copper-indium-selenium)

•     CIS (copper-indium-gallium-selenium)

•     CdTe (cadmium telluride)

It uses thin semiconductor layers, which is the particular feature of this second generation. That’s why these panels are less expensive and more aesthetic, but has a lower output (from 5 to 11 %).

The convertor: the most important element in the installation

A solar panel generates direct current. It has to be converted to alternating current of 230 V, to use this current in the home or in other place. This is done by the converter, which is integrated into the electrical circuit close to the solar panels.

What production level can we expect?

The capacity of a solar installation is expressed in watt peak. This is the maximum electrical capacity that a solar cell can yield under ideal circumstances, solar collector directed towards the sun in a cloudless sky.

 Alphazee Systems has a product portfolio of Online UPS, Offline UPS, Domestic Inverters, Solar Water Heaters, Solar domestic Lightings, Solar Street Lights, Energy Saving CFLs.