HOW DOES SOLAR WORK:
Solar Energy has come a long way since 1954 when Bell Laboratories invented
the first photovoltaic (PV) cell, yet the basic principles of solar technology remain
largely the same. Solar cells are made of thin layers of pure crystalline silicon, the
same material that makes up semi-conductor chips in computers. When sunlight strikes
the PV cells embedded in the modules, electrons are released, generating direct
electrical current. This direct current (DC) is channeled though copper wire down into
your utility box, converted to alternating current (AC), and connected to your electrical
meter.
Click for large printable diagram.
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