Introducing Solar Photovoltaics
Solar photovoltaic systems use solar energy to produce electricity. The term photovoltaic is composed of "photo", the Greek root for "light", and "volt", a common measurement of electricity named after Alessandro Volta, a scientist renowned for his research on electricity. Together, these terms literally mean "light electricity". Photovoltaic technology can be referred to in short as photovoltaics or PV.
Photovoltaic technology relies on the electrical properties of certain materials known as semiconductors. When hit by sunlight, a semiconductor material responds by creating an electrical charge which can then be transferred to anything that uses electricity.
These semiconductors are produced in the form of cells, which can then be assembled in groups in a panel. There are many different types of panels available, and each has its particular advantages. Individual panels are often used to charge batteries that power small or remote electric equipment. Depending on the amount of electricity needed, these panels can then be connected in an array to provide larger amounts of electricity to a building or other large user of electricity.
Photovoltaic cells and panels can be manufactured and installed at almost any scale, and as a result are used to power a broad variety of applications. At its smallest, photovoltaic technology powers calculators, laptop computers and other appliances that run on batteries. At its largest, it powers homes, offices and other buildings that use large amounts of electricity, and can be connected to utilities to increase the diversity of our collective electricity supply.
In connecting a photovoltaic system to an end use, several additional structures and technologies are needed. While photovoltaics can be mounted on roofs, it is important to consider the angle at which they face the sun. To transfer electricity to its end use, photovoltaics are connected through intermediary technologies that condition and modify the electricity they produce. These considerations are known as balance of system components, as they maximize the system's efficiency and allow higher amounts of electricity to reach its end use.
There are many benefits to using photovoltaics as an electricity source, most notably their environmental benefits. As one of the cleanest electricity-generating technologies available, photovoltaics hold much promise for reducing environmental impacts from energy production. At the same time, several barriers exist for widespread use of this technology, the largest of which is its current cost.
In spite of its barriers, photovoltaics are becoming more widely used each year, and many examples exist throughout the world. To find out much more about solar photovoltaics, visit the following sections of this introduction:
The Science Behind Photovoltaics
Photovoltaic Technology
The Photovoltaic Panel
Types of Panels
How Many Panels Do I Need to Power...
Installing an Array to Maximize Efficiency
Connecting the Array to a Load
Where Photovoltaics are Used Today
Photovoltaic Use in Massachusetts