What is solar PV?
'PV' solar panels are photovoltaic panels – which allow you to effectively generate free electricity and put an end to sky high bills. In harnessing the sun's free energy to create electricity, you also lessen the environmental strain on fossil fuels. 75% of the world's electricity is currently generated via the use of fossil fuels like coal and oil, which will at some stage run out. That's why governments around the world are promoting the use of PV solar panels; and the UK government is no exception. They have introduced a 'Feed in Tariff' which effectively pays homeowners for the electricity they generate via PV panels.
How do PV Solar Panels Work?
Photovoltaic solar panels are a somewhat more complex construction than solar thermal collectors used for solar heating. Made from thinly-cut cells of silicon crystal, PV solar panels have positive and negative layers. That means one side of each cell has an abundance of electrons, while the other has a shortage of them. This imbalance creates an electrical field in the cell, allowing the passing of electrons from the negative to the positive layer. The sun's energy, which travels in photons, provides the catalyst for this movement. Absorbed by the PV solar panel, it passes its energy to atoms within the cell and kick starts the electron transfer. In short, it is this movement of electrons which generates electricity for your home. The most efficient (and most expensive) PV solar panels are cut from a single silicon crystal, while the more common polycrystalline PV panels are constructed from a number of crystals. The latest type of PV solar panel is the 'amorphous' panel, cut so thin as to retain flexibility for easier siting. Currently, the efficiency of solar panels averages around 20% - but this is markedly higher than at the turn of the century, so it can be expected to increase again as technology improves.
For a free NO obligation quote please call:
07815 061164 alternatively fill in the form below:
