More and more homeowners are installing residential solar electric systems at their homes in order to reduce their energy bills and carbon footprints. Some have even become free of the grid. Due to the popularity of solar energy installations, production of solar cells has increased by almost 50%. However, did you ever wonder how these photovoltaic solar energy systems function in order to generate electricity?

Workings of Residential Solar Electric Systems
Solar panels produce electricity in the same way as chemical batteries and standard electrical outlets. All the three utilize the same principle of electronics to function – the free-flow of electrons via a circuit.

Solar panels are made of the same element that created the computer revolution – silicon. Silicon in its purified state forms the perfect neutral platform for electron transmission. Additionally, silicon has certain atomic level properties that make this metalloid an attractive option for creating solar powered products.

Each atom of silicon carries four electrons in their natural state, although they have room for eight. The gap of four is filled when one atom attracts another and combines their electrons to become eight. Although this strengthens the bond, there is no flow of positive or negative charge since eight electrons satisfies the atom’s needs. Based on the same fundamentals, two plates of silicon do not generate electricity unless combined with elements that contain positive or negative charges.

The phosphorous-silicon combination creates negatively charged solar plates because phosphorous offers five electrons to the other atoms. This results in eight stable electrons and a free one alongside. However, for electric flow the system must have positive electrons too. This can be achieved by combining silicon with boron, which offers three electrons, thereby leaving a gap of one. For electricity generation, these two plates have to be sandwiched in the panels.

Natural sunlight comprises several particles, including photon, which a solar photovoltaic energy device utilizes. When the negative plating of solar cells gets exposed to the sun, photons fasten on to the silicon/phosphorus atoms. One silicon atom allows eight electrons to stick to it but the 9th one is knocked out. This free electron does not remain free for long and gets drawn to the silicon-boron plate to fill the empty space there. Electricity is generated as more and more electrons break off from the photon particles. All residential photovoltaic systems function in this way.

Cheers

Dennis Yew