How Do Solar Panels Work?

Solar power generation has a history spanning over 200 years, with key milestones including the discovery of the photovoltaic effect in 1839, the development of the first practical silicon solar cell in 1954, and significant cost reductions in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, solar power is a major source of renewable energy with over 700 GW of installed capacity worldwide.

How is solar energy converted into electricity?

Here are the basic steps of how solar panels work:

1.The sun shines on the solar panels, which are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells.
2.The PV cells absorb the sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity.
3.The DC electricity flows through wires in the solar panel and into an inverter.
4.The inverter converts the DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the type of electricity that can be used in homes and businesses.
5.The AC electricity flows through wires to the electrical panel or grid connection, where it can be used to power appliances or sent back to the grid for others to use.

These are just the basic steps, let's discuss the principles of solar power generation in depth.

Direct Sunlight to the Panel:
The first step in generating solar energy is capturing sunlight using photovoltaic (PV) panels. When sunlight hits the panels, it excites the electrons in the solar cells, which creates a flow of electrical energy. The PV panels consist of multiple solar cells, which are made up of semiconducting materials like silicon. These materials absorb photons from sunlight and release electrons, creating a flow of electricity.

Direct Current to Inverter:
The electricity generated by the PV panels is in the form of direct current (DC), which is not suitable for most household and commercial appliances that require alternating current (AC) to operate. Therefore, an inverter is required to convert the DC electricity from the panels into AC electricity that can be used by appliances. The inverter is an electronic device that converts the DC electricity into AC electricity. The inverter also manages the flow of electricity and ensures that the system operates efficiently.

Direct Current to Alternating Current:
Once the inverter converts the DC electricity into AC electricity, it is ready to be used by household or commercial appliances. The AC electricity can be used in the same way as the electricity supplied by the power grid. The solar energy system can be connected to the grid so that any excess energy generated by the PV panels can be fed back into the grid. This excess energy can be used by other consumers or stored in batteries for later use.

What is the best battery for storing energy?

Acoucou LiFePO4 batteries are currently the most popular type of battery for solar energy storage because it has a high energy density, which means they can store a lot of energy in a relatively small space. They also have a long cycle life, meaning they can be charged and discharged many times without losing their capacity. In addition, they are considered to be very safe, with a low risk of thermal runaway, explosion or fire.

Acoucou LiFePO4 batteries are also known for their high charging and discharging efficiency, which means less energy is wasted during the charging and discharging process. This can help to reduce the overall energy consumption of a system.

Overall, Acoucou LiFePO4 batteries are an excellent choice for solar storage due to their high energy density, long cycle life, safety, efficiency, and low maintenance requirements.