What are solar cells?

Solar cells are devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar cells are made of layers of semiconductor materials similar to those used in computer chips.

How does solar work?

When light shines on a photovoltaic (PV) cell – also called a solar cell – that light may be reflected, absorbed, or pass right through the cell. The PV cell is composed of semiconductor material; the “semi” means that it can conduct electricity better than an insulator but not as well as a good conductor like a metal.

What are solar cells & how do they work?

Solar cells are an essential part of systems that convert sunlight into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. Wafer-based solar cells are the most commonly used photovoltaic (PV) cells by far. Most PV modules — like solar panels and shingles — contain at least several and up to hundreds of wafer-based crystalline silicon solar cells.

How do solar power plants work?

The cells are made of semiconductor materials like those found in computer chips. When sunlight hits the cells, it knocks electrons loose from their atoms. As the electrons flow through the cell, they generate electricity. On a much larger scale, solar-thermal power plants employ various techniques to concentrate the sun's energy as a heat source.

Which solar panels use wafer based solar cells?

Both polycrystalline and monocrystalline solar panels use wafer-based silicon solar cells. The only alternatives to wafer-based solar cells that are commercially available are low-efficiency thin-film cells. Silicon wafer-based solar cells produce far more electricity from available sunlight than thin-film solar cells.

How are solar panels made?

Silicon is one of the most important materials used in solar panels, making up the semiconductors that create electricity from solar energy. However, the materials used to manufacture the cells for solar panels are only one part of the solar panel itself. The manufacturing process combines six components to create a functioning solar panel.