The sun's energy, solar energy, is a renewable source of energy. Solar panels are normally mounted on a roof. The sunlight reaches the panels and converts them into direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). The AC power from solar panels can be used inside a house or sent to the electric grid for sale back to the utility.
Photovoltaic effect
The photovoltaic phenomenon occurs when light is absorbed and an electron is excited. This excited state can be used to produce direct current. The electrons can't be directed in a particular direction without a junction-forming material. This allows solar power to be used as an electricity source.
Photovoltaics convert solar energy into electric power. Photovoltaic is a combination of the Greek words photos, which refers to light, and the Italian volta which refers to voltage. Alexander-Edmond Becquerel, a researcher on the photoconductivity for selenium, discovered it in 1839. William Adams and Richard Day discovered in 1876 that one photon could produce an electric current. Charles Fritts, an 1894 inventor of large-area solar cells, created the first.
Inverters
Inverters enable solar panels to generate energy by controlling the voltage across their system. They control the output from the panels and battery storage. Intelligent management is possible with modern all-in-one Inverters. They are versatile enough to handle both grid tie and stand-alone applications.
Homes with solar panels that connect to the grid are seeing an increase in the use of inverters. This is important because inverter-based generation allows you to produce energy at any frequency, without the inertial properties of traditional steam-based generation. Inverters are able to respond to frequency fluctuations and stabilize power grid disturbances. Moreover, they help grid operators control the supply and demand of electricity on the system. These activities are called grid-services and they support grid stability as well as system balance.
Batteries
There are many options for solar energy batteries. Some are specifically designed for solar power applications while others can be used for industrial purposes. Some solar energy battery features include eco-friendly power and low temperature. They can also be rechargeable. Others have flame arrestors or three-stage terminal designs.
Among the many types of batteries for solar energy, many are deep cycle batteries. These batteries are large cells that produce approximately 2 volts. Larger cells have a better ability to store energy. There are also three-four and six cell batteries. A battery bank can contain multiple batteries that are combined to provide a higher level of storage for solar energy. A 12-volt battery bank can be made by connecting six 2-volt cells in series.
Frequency response
The frequency response of solar energy is an important consideration in solar power systems. To stabilize the frequency of the system, the dynamic change in frequency between a fixed frequency and a frequency that corresponds with a maximum PV power level may be sufficient. However, the dynamic change in frequency is much faster as the solar panel penetration increases. This phenomenon is also known as "underfrequency".
The frequency response of solar electricity is closely related with the quantum efficiency. The former measures the ratio of the number electrons produced by solar cells to the number incident photons on them. The latter can be used to assess the efficiency of solar power system and is shown below.
Carbon footprint
The solar industry is growing rapidly and plays a vital role in addressing global climate change. It converts sunlight into electricity using a process called solar fotovoltaics. The electricity can then be stored in thermal or batteries. It has very little carbon footprint. There are almost no CO2 emissions.
Although solar energy is free of emissions, some emissions are produced during its production process. However, the material used to make solar panels is extracted and processed. However, solar energy systems produce less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels over their lifetime. Solar power systems emit about 25 times as much carbon dioxide as coal power plants.