What Are Solar Panels? All You Need to Know

Sun has always been a source of life for each living creature. Solar panels can harness the energy from the Sun, making home electricity cheaper, conserving power, or generating home electricity for homes that lack the utility grid. But for that, anybody interested in knowing how solar panels work and the pros and cons of such renewable energy sources will have to read on. This article will cover the solar panel meaning, their benefits and the hurdles faced while using them.

What is Solar Panel?

A solar panel is a device that turns sunlight into electricity. Solar panels contain photovoltaic (PV) cells. PV cells are present in the Solar panels. These cells are used to capture electricity from direct sunlight. They are typically developed from silicon, a semiconductor material. It accepts photo radiation energy and releases electrons. This generates an electric current; it can be utilised for operating electricity appliances or retained for future use.

Types of Solar Panels

There are two primary types of solar panels:

• Monocrystalline Panels: These panels are constructed from a single silicon crystal. They are highly efficient but often can cost more – this is the main drawback.
• Polycrystalline Panels: Made from silicon shards. While cheaper, they are less efficient than the larger ones.

How Does Solar Energy Produce Electricity?

The operation of solar panels can be broken down into a series of steps:

1. Absorption of Sunlight: Sunlight has particles called photons. These photons hit the solar panel and excite its electrons. They interact with the material, usually silicon.
2. Photovoltaic Effect: Photons hit the silicon cells. They knock electrons loose from their atoms. The photovoltaic effect creates a flow of electric current.
3. Direct Current (DC) Generation: The loose electrons are captured. They are then directed through metal contacts. This creates direct current (DC) electricity.
4. Inverter Conversion: Most appliances use alternating current (AC). The panels generate direct current (DC) electricity. It goes to an inverter, which converts it to AC.
5. Electricity Distribution: It powers connected devices. Any surplus electricity can be stored in batteries or sent back to the grid. It also powers homes and businesses with converted AC electricity.

Advantages of Solar Panels

Solar panels are an excellent choice for homeowners and businesses. There are many advantages of solar panels, some of them include:

• Renewable Energy Source: Solar energy is renewable. It is abundant and inexhaustible. Solar power, unlike fossil fuels, does not use up resources. It helps reduce the environmental impact of energy use.
• Lower Electricity Bills: Solar panels can reduce or eliminate your bills. Sometimes, excess energy can be sold back to the grid through net metering. This provides a financial return. According to recent stats, pairing solar panels with a battery system can reduce your reliance on the grid by up to 84%.
• Eco-Friendly: Solar energy is clean. It produces no harmful emissions or pollutants. This makes it an essential tool in the fight against climate change.
• Low Maintenance: Solar panels last 25 years or more. They need very little maintenance. Usually, basic cleaning is all that’s required in order to keep them efficient.
• Energy Independence: Solar panels can reduce reliance on the utility grid. They can help homeowners and businesses avoid rising energy prices.
• Incentives and Rebates: Many governments offer tax credits to boost solar energy. These incentives lower the cost of the initial investment.

Also Read : Loan for Solar Panel Installation

Disadvantages of Solar Panels

Solar panels have many advantages. However, there are some disadvantages of solar panels to consider as well.

• High Initial Cost: Solar panels are expensive to purchase and install, but their costs have gradually decreased. There is also an additional cost for the inverter, mounting system and other components that must be included during installation.
• Weather Dependent: They need to work better with sunlight; solar panels require sunlight to generate electricity. During cloudy days or at night, they have low-efficiency rates compared to sunny days. This led to unpredictable generation in some areas while at the same time encouraging the use of other sources of energy.
• Large Area Requirement: A rooftop or ground-mounted solar panel needs a large area to produce much power. There are conditions where the roof structure allows it, but mounting a solar system is impossible.
• Energy Storage Costs: We need expensive batteries to use solar energy at night. In some systems, it is unnecessary to install energy storage systems, but solar panel system installation costs could be huge.
• Efficiency Limitations: Estimates suggest that standard solar panels range from 15%–22% in efficiency ratings. A solar cell – or photovoltaic cell – is a device that takes a small part of the light falling on it and turns it into electricity. It was noted that despite technological advances, panels are still huge if they are to generate sufficient energy.
• Environmental Impact of Manufacturing: Solar panels are green. However, their manufacturing requires a lot of energy, most of which is used to process silicon. Therefore, it is worth mentioning that some parts of the solar panel contain toxic substances. If not properly disposed of, they have the potential to cause harm to the natural environment.

Solar Panel Components

A general solar power system comprises several components, as explained next. They work together to generate electricity.

• Solar Panels (Photovoltaic Cells): They are the system’s heart. They use sunlight and convert it to electricity. These components are usually silicon cell panels. Monocrystalline or polycrystalline are two types of solar modules. Monocrystalline panels are slightly more effective than others but are more expensive.
• Inverter: The inverter is another device that directs electricity, hence converting the DC electricity produced by the solar panels to AC. There is an excellent preference for AC electricity in most appliances.
• Mounting System: Photovoltaic cells are installed on roofs and platform forms. A racking system places them at the correct orientation to capture sunlight.
• Battery Storage (Optional): Batteries receive energy when excess energy is available and used at night or on a cloudy day. But, it is not free of charge; it is coupled with other costs.
• Electrical Wiring: It links all the elements together. It ensures that electricity gets from the solar panels to the Solar inverter and from the Solar inverter to the house or workplace.
• Performance Monitoring System: They allow owners to monitor energy production and to identify problems on time.

Before You Go 

India makes around 5,000 trillion kWh of solar energy, which has become a vast electric avenue, explicitly tapping into solar power. Solar panels are essential to the current transition to utilizing renewable energy sources. Therefore, the major disadvantages of solar panels include initially high cost and dependence on weather factors. These are matters that need to begin being considered when thinking about adopting solar energy.

Fibe can help! With flexible solar financing options, you can invest in solar energy and upgrade your lifestyle, making it easier for you to achieve your financial goals.

Take the next step towards a secure and sustainable future with Fibe. Visit Fibe today to explore your options!

FAQs On Solar Panel

How long do solar panels last?

Solar panels typically function properly for 25 years. After this, they may still work but at 80% efficiency. Most solar panels come with a 20-25-year warranty.

Do solar panels need maintenance?

Solar panels require little or no maintenance at all. You only need to clean them occasionally to clean dirt which has accumulated and hinders the passage of sunlight. Sometimes, it is necessary to control to see if some wires have been damaged or if their connections are loose. In totality, they are workwise low demanding.

Will solar panels work at night?

Solar panels don’t work at night because they need sunlight to produce power. But you can store extra energy in batteries or use net metering to send it to the grid and use it later. 

Can a solar panel work without the sun?

Solar panels can generate some power on cloudy days. They need only ambient, not direct, sunlight to produce electricity. However, their efficiency will be much lower compared to a clear, sunny day. They do not work in complete darkness, as they require some level of light to function.