How Do Solar Panels Work?

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:53:37 +0000

So you might be wondering how solar panels work…. or you might not. I use a computer every day without having a precise understanding of how the actual processor works. I’ve looked into that briefly, but I am not going to waste my time when it would be better spent learning how to effectively use the technology. I feel the same way about solar technology, I’m happy to have just a basic idea of how it works.

This is the simplified explanation of how solar panels work. Solar energy hits the Earth as a particle that we refer to as a photon. When a solar panel is bombarded with photons, some of them are absorbed by the semi-conductor material (commonly silicon). Each photon that is absorbed can potentially shake loose an electron. An electric current is a flow of electrons. Solar cells are constructed with materials that force the free electrons to flow in one direction, thus creating an electrical current. A typical solar panel is composed of a group of solar cells joined in series and/or in parallel by a conductive material.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:22:58 +0000

When we talk about how much solar panels cost, the standard measure is in dollars per watt. The electricity that we buy from the grid is generally priced in dollars per kiloWatt hour. Solar panels generate at their full potential for about 5 hours per day. The average household pays for about 10,000 kWh per year. That is roughly equal to 1140 Watts 24/7 all year. If solar panels can only power for 5 hours per day (check here for Sun hours per day in your area) you need about 5000 watts worth of solar panels to meet average consumption needs.

Solar panels are presently available wholesale at a minimum of $3 per Watt. That means the cost of the panels alone will be $15,000.

I don’t have that kind of money burning a whole in my pocket, do you? There are lots of other less capital intensive ways to take advantage of solar power. You can build your own closed system that uses this alternative power for one of your needs. A small solar panel setup could easily power an LED lighting system. You could save some money by building a DC lighting system that wouldn’t require an inverter. Your laptop uses about 60 Watts. You should be able to build your own solar panels to power a laptop and some DC powered peripherals for a few hundred dollars.

Build Your Own Solar Panel » Solar Panel FAQ

How Do Solar Panels Work?

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?