How does solar panel works? And how Solar Energy Convert Its Power to Electric?

The Earth intercepts more solar energy than it consumes, making solar powered a promising energy source.

Solar cells, made of silicon, capture this energy and convert photons into electricity.

However, political and logistical obstacles, inconsistent distribution of solar energy, and limited solar cell efficiency pose challenges to widespread reliance on solar power.

Nevertheless, advances in solar powered innovation and technology have the potential to address these issues, making solar power generation a more appealing option in the future.

Solar Power And Its Conversion to Electrical Energy:

The Earth intercepts a lot of solar power.173 thousand terawatts. That’s ten thousand times more power than the planet’s population uses.

So, is it possible that one day the world could be completely reliant on solar energy?

To answer that question, we first need to examine how solar panels convert solar energy to electrical energy.

Process of Solar Panels and Solar Cells:

Smaller units called solar cells make up solar panels.

Manufacturers commonly use silicon, the second most abundant element on Earth, to create these solar cells.

A solar cell consists of conductive layers sandwiching crystalline silicon.

Each silicon atom establishes four strong bonds with its neighboring atoms, thereby securing the electrons in their positions and preventing the flow of current.

The two Different Layers of Silicon: N-Type and P-Type:

A silicon solar cell uses two different layers of silicon.

N-type silicon has extra electrons, and p-type silicon has additional spaces for electrons, called holes.

Where the two types of silicon meet, electrons can wander across the p/n junction, leaving a positive charge on one side and creating a negative charge on the other.

Impact of Light and Photons:

You can think of light as the flow of tiny particles called photons, shooting out from the Sun.

When one of these photons strikes the silicon cell with enough energy, it can knock an electron from its bond, leaving a hole.

Movement of Electrons and Holes:

The negatively charged electron and the location of the positively charged hole are now free to move around.

But because of the electric field at the p & n junction, they’ll only go one way.

The electron is drawn to the n-side, while the hole is drawn to the p-side.

Collection of Electrons and the Circuit:

Thin metal fingers collect the mobile electrons at the top of the cell.

From there, they flow through an external circuit, doing electrical work, like powering a lightbulb, before returning through the conductive aluminium sheet on the back.

Each silicon cell only puts out half a volt, but you can string them together in modules to get more power.

Twelve photovoltaic cells are enough to charge a cell phone, while it takes many modules to power an entire house.

Electrons are the only moving parts in a solar cell, and they all return where they came from.

There’s nothing to get worn out or used up, so solar cells can last for decades.

So, what’s stopping us from being completely reliant on solar power?

Challenges to Solar Power

Political Factors and Logistical Challenges:

There are political factors at play, not to mention businesses that lobby to maintain the status quo.

But for now, let’s focus on the physical and logistical challenges and the most obvious of those is that renewable solar energy is unevenly distributed across the planet.

Some areas are sunnier than others.

It’s also inconsistent. Less solar energy is available on cloudy days or at night.

So, a total reliance would require efficient ways to get electricity from sunny spots to cloudy ones and effective storage of energy.

The Mechanism of Solar Cell:

The efficiency of the cell itself is a challenge, too.

If sunlight is reflected instead of absorbed, or dislodged electrons fall back into a hole before going through the circuit, that photon’s energy is lost.

The efficiency of Solar Cells

The most efficient solar cell yet still only converts 46% of the available sunlight to electricity, and most commercial systems are currently 15-20% efficient.

Despite these limitations, it actually would be possible to power the entire world with today’s solar technology.

Space and Funding for Infrastructure:

We’d need the funding to build the infrastructure and a good deal of space.

Estimates range from tens to hundreds of thousands of square miles, which seems like a lot, but the Sahara Desert alone is over 3 million square miles in area.

Improving the Technology of Solar Cells:

Meanwhile, solar cells are getting better, and cheaper, and are competing with electricity from the grid.

Innovations in Solar Power:

And innovations in solar power generation, like floating solar farms, may change the landscape entirely.

Thought experiments aside, there’s the fact that over a billion people don’t have access to a reliable electric grid, especially in developing countries, many of which are sunny.

Cheaper and Safer Alternative:

So, in places like that, solar energy is already much cheaper and safer than available alternatives, like kerosene.

Practical renewable solar energy may still be slightly off for Finland or Seattle.

Conclusion:

The world could potentially consider solar energy as a major energy source.

With mechanical advances, solar boards are becoming more productive and financially savvy as they bridge solar power.

In any case, before the world can completely depend on solar energy, it needs to resolve specific issues, including political elements, strategic difficulties, and solar cell effectiveness.

Despite these obstacles, solar energy is already a feasible choice in many parts of the world and is increasingly competing with traditional power sources.

Continuous innovation and investment in solar energy may enable the sun to completely power the globe someday.