Solar Power: What Is It And How It Works?

The importance of harnessing solar power is more in the wake of impending power crisis and pollution cause by other sources of energy. Solar Power is the best renewable source of energy that can be used in various forms. Solar power has the capability to power your home. Many gardens use solar energy in the form of solar light or solar garden water features. The efficient use of solar power in gardens proves that it is a very versatile source of energy. The major drawback of solar power was the size of solar panels. However, new technology has made the systems compact and much better look wise. In California, the solar power is being used since the 1980's to provide power to more than 10 million homes.

Many other developed countries have are also using solar power. The advantage of solar power is its almost cost free operation. Solar power has just one time installation expense and the running cost is just zero because you need not pay anything for the sun rays that are required to generate solar power. With technological advancement it has become possible to store solar power and use it in the night when you do not have the sun rays. The energy from an average sized Solar power unit can be used to power a 17" TV, a fan and a radio. It can be a good source of sufficient electric lighting system for up to 10 hours.

What are Photovoltaic Cells and how do they work?
Harnessing of solar energy requires solar photovoltaic units known as PV. Solar photovoltaic cells are the devices used for converting sunlight into electrical energy. It works by bypassing thermodynamic cycles and mechanical generators. This electricity can then be used for powering your homes and for other applications. The photovoltaic cells were first discovered and used in the 18th Century. The photovoltaic cells were initially used for space applications.

The photovoltaic tile is made up of a positive and negative silicon slices that are placed under a slice of glass. The protons of sunlight knock the neutrons off the silicon when they hit the PV cells. The silicon then attracts the free neutrons that are negatively charged. The free neutrons are further trapped by the magnetic field formed as result of the opposite fields. The small silicon wires catch the free neutrons. These free neutrons form an electric current when they are connected in a circuit.

This produces electricity in the form of Direct Current (DC). The DC electricity is further passed through an inverter to convert into an Alternating Current (AC). The AC current is used for power in our homes and other applications.

The advantage of using a PV cell is that it requires little or no maintenance. A typical PV cell has the capability to last up to 40 years with very minor maintenance. This feature is making solar energy amazingly popular power alternative.