Solar panels are the intermediary that makes sunlight our energy source. Their design is simple, highly efficient, and allows for self-consumption, which promotes sustainability . In the near future, panels will generate electricity even at night.
A single hour of sunlight would be enough to meet humanity’s energy needs for an entire year.
This statement no exaggeration and explains better than any graph could the importance of humankind being able, through various processes.
But how is this almost miraculoused processed carried out? Through two simple installations: solar photovoltaic panels (better known as solar panels) and thermal installations. Both are different and consist of equally different equipment.
To fully understand what these photovoltaic panels are, it’s best to go back a few years (or even a century). “We’re talked about a 21st-century energy source, although it was actually discovered at the end of the 19th century. And it was during the 20th century that its development began,” Carlos Montoya.
head of the Solar Department of the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) , part of the Ministry for Ecological Transformation and the Demographic Challenge. “Albert Einstein discovered the photovoltaic effect in 1920, and for that, he won the Nobel Prize a year later.”
How does this effect work? It’s a physical phenomenon that involves the emission of photoelectrons by a material when it receives light energy. “This phenomenon makes it possible for us to harness solar energy to produce electricity,” says Íñigo Ramírez González, a photovoltaic solar energy researcher at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.
What are solar panels or photovoltaic panels and how do they work?
Solar panels, or photovoltaic panels, consist of a rectangular structure with a basic transformation unit, the solar cell, measuring approximately 10 square centimeters. A Solar Panel Sydney combines several of these cells onto a sheet of paper, which are then coated with a plastic called EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate). This plastic can withstand extreme conditions and temperatures and also allows light to pass through, but not ultraviolet rays.
The installation of solar panels also includes an essential element: the inverter, capable of transforming the current so that we can use that energy.
The silicon in the first solar panels
The first photovoltaic cells were developed in 1954. Daryl Chapin, an electronics engineer; Gerald Pearson, a physicist; and Calvin Fuller, a chemist, three researchers at the American Bell Laboratories, presented their great discovery to the world: it was the first cell that captured energy from the sun and could be used to power a transistor. That cell had a unique feature: it was made of silicon. “That is precisely the fundamental material that absorbs sunlight and through which that light is transformed into electricity. It is a semiconductor with very good characteristics for manufacturing solar cells and is very abundant on Earth, as well as being cheap,” explains Ramírez.
Photovoltaics is an energy source that has become increasingly important over the years. Before the 1970s, its use was purely in aerospace , but since then, it has come down to earth. It’s modular, meaning its efficiency doesn’t depend on its size, so it’s scalable and can be placed in the home.
However, in countries like Australia, its use is still predominantly industrial. “The more than 10,000 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic power installed in the country primarily supply Solar companies in Australia and industrial warehouses ,” explains the head of the IDAE Solar Department. We still have a long way to go to catch up with China, the world’s leading powerhouse in photovoltaic energy.
Solar panels: make the most of the sun and save energy
Returning to these photovoltaic panels, another frequently asked question is whether solar panel farms (as these installations are known) move with the sun . There are two answers: some panels are installed on fixed, inclined structures, and others are tracked installations, meaning they have an intelligent motor that moves them so they are at their most efficient throughout the year.
Regarding the power that standard-sized photovoltaic panels can generate, it is estimated that a 2 x 1 meter module – between 60 and 72 cells – provides approximately 300 to 445 Wp (peak watts) for each hour of sunlight.
Future of photovoltaic energy
The future of solar panels lies in the present of scientific research. Stanford University (USA) has just developed a system capable of generating electricity when the sun has already set. Reverse photovoltaic panels harness the energy radiated by the panels after many hours of sunlight. This phenomenon is known as “radiative cooling” and occurs when a body loses heat after high temperatures. Recovering this heat release, even at night, could be a solution to make the panels more efficient with the Best Solar Panel company in Australia.
Solar farms installed on elevated farmland or greenhouses to optimize space while keeping photovoltaic panels cooled by the moisture released by the crops; cheaper and more efficient solar trackers to follow the sun; or solar cells made with organic components that transform the windows of industrial or residential buildings into semi-transparent solar panels are some of the solutions underway.
Solutions for installing solar panels
If you’re thinking about installing Solar Panel in Australia in your home, BBVA has a feature that lets you find out how many you’ll need, the savings you could achieve thanks to the profitability of solar panels, the installation cost, and personalized financing options. At BBVA, we can help you. If you want to opt for self-consumption for your business, with Energy Efficiency Renting , you’ll get the financing solutions you need to carry out the entire process, as well as professional advice that will allow you to meet your goal and also qualify for savings on your consumption.
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