SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

Solar power has powered the Earth forever: only recently are we harnessing solar power to run or own homes. Without solar power, we would not have wind power, biofuel, or hydroelectric power.

Vivasolar.com has put together a brief description of just how solar power works – from collection to conversion.

In short, solar collection panels are made when Silicon is mounted beneath non-reflective glass to produce panels. The panels collect photons from the sun, which creates DC electrical power. This power then flows into an inverter. The inverter transforms the power into the basic voltage and AC electrical power.

The detailed description begins with Silicon. Silicon has four electrons, but it has the capacity for eight. When two atoms of silicon combine, they have a stable, strong bond; they each share four electrons to fill the capacity of eight.

To create electricity, you need a positive or negative charge; the silicon must combine with something else. When silicon combines with an element that has five electrons to share (like phosphorus), a negative charge is created. Silicon can only take four of the five electrons, so one electron is stuck there, hanging out.

On the other hand, when silicon is combined with an element that has 3 electrons to offer (like boron), a positive charge is created. These silicon combinations are used to make solar panels.

Photons travel down from the sun, hit the silicon in the panel and get everything all rattled up. When the photons hit the silicon, they force the free electron hanging onto the silicon/phosphorous combination out to the outer ring. From there, it is sucked up to the outer ring of the silicon/boron combination.

That extra electron moves back to the silicon/phosphorous combo and begins the whole process again.

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