You have in all likelihood seen or used a calculator that uses solar energy and you would understand just how handy they are. You don't have to invest in replacement batteries and they seem to operate indefinitely, so long as there is enough light.

Perhaps you have also noticed the an expansion in the use of solar panels in more substantial units, like emergency road signs, telephone boxes and lighting for car parking bays. An increasing number of these beneficial products are now powered by the sun rather than using the more traditional types of electricity.

So, you ask: How do these things work?

The solution is photovoltaics. This technology has been in operation ever since the late 1950s and was employed most commonly in space, powering the electrical systems in satellites. Presently, the technology is used in more run of the mill applications. Many people are convinced that the energy of the sun will ultimately be captured to operate economical motor vehicles and that just about all of our electricity requirements will be without charge.

Photovoltaic panels, also known as pv panels, produce electricity by way of the conversion of solar radiation into direct current (dc) electricity using semiconductors. This direct current is what we gain access to through mains or grid power. An inverter is essentialnecessary to transform dc power to ac, which is the form of electricity utilised for such purposes as boats, electric cars and roadside emergency telephones.

Each of these solar pv panels incorporate a number of cells and these cells in turn contain photovoltaic material. The most generally used materials are comprised of silicon. This material has to be protected from the elements: generally this means it is packed snugly behind a sheet of glass. For cases in which a significantly greater volume of electrical power is needed, the panels are hooked up in arrays.

In just the time span of ten years,the manufacture of solar pv panels has become increasingly efficient, as a consequence of a rising need for renewable energy sources. Photovoltaic panels are producing power in over 100 countries around the world; despite the fact that this energy source is only a very small portion of the world's electricity production, it is the fastest developing technology of its kind .

These technological advances have likewise resulted in agreeable information for the customer : the level and quality of manufacturing has increased, whilst the pricing of photovoltaic panels has decreased. A win-win situation!

Governments in numerous countries globally have also introduced credits for purchasers for the installation of solar pv panels, including rebates and feed-in tariffs. Remote communities and villages don't need to depend on the often prohibitive expense of connection to a grid when they use solar energy. This allows for telecommunications accessibility to all corners of the planet, both on land and at sea.

Photovoltaic panels also contribute to making roads less hazardous, with the application of emergency and warning lights to advise people of road work or hazardous driving conditions. This in turn has the possibility to save lives, using a cost effective means.

In developing nations, solar energy is a less expensive means by which most of the population can have the use of electricity and thereby have a better quality of life. It facilitates electrification of schools and community centres. When people have access to reliable energy, it has the potential to extend the amount of time by which productive work can occur, enabling night time craft work to augment other forms of income. In disaster scenarios, emergency medical relief teams have the ability to establish well equipped triage centres.

Photovoltaic panels have as well been developed for recreational use: to power campsites for the adventurer or to produce a dependable source of power for a computer when travelling.

As the non-renewable resources such as coal and gas disappear, it makes perfect sense to take advantage of the sun's rays.