Solar Energy Simplified
Energy from the sun, solar energy, is harvested
with semiconductor technology called Photo-Voltaic (PV) converts light energy
into electricity.
PV, Photovoltaic, Solar Panels:
The above are interchangeable
descriptors for the same product. Essentially panels that
convert it into electrical energy. Solar panels
are durable; most come with performance warranties of 20-25 years once purchased
they continue to produce electrical power for many years with minimal maintenance
basically just keeping them clean. A
particularly useful characteristic of solar photovoltaic power generation is
that it can be installed on any scale; from a single solar powered garden light
to an array of many kilowatts.
History of Photo Voltaic
In 1839 Alexandre Edmond
Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect and explained how electricity could
be generated from sunlight. Becquerel
claimed that "shining light on an electrode submerged in a conductive solution
would create an electric current."
photovoltaic power continued to be inefficient and photovoltaics were used
mainly for the purpose of measuring light (light meters for photography). More than one hundred
years later, in 1941, Russell Ohl an American engineer invented the solar cell.
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