• Question: how do solar panels absorb power?

    Asked by 798cmtm28 to Aileen, Christopher, Rehemat, Stephanie, Stephen on 14 Mar 2018. This question was also asked by 2pieceandabiscuite.
    • Photo: Stephanie Mann

      Stephanie Mann answered on 14 Mar 2018:


      Solar panels are made of a special material that can create a voltage when the electrons inside the material have enough energy. So when the sunlight falls on the solar panel, the light gives the electrons in the material enough energy to generate an electrical current… that then gets cleaned up and put straight into the grid to power our homes, or it gets put into a battery that can be used when we need it

    • Photo: Aileen Baird

      Aileen Baird answered on 14 Mar 2018:


      Stephanie has snuck in just before me! Her answer is great, but one thing I’d like to add is that some solar panels convert the light into heat energy rather than a voltage (electrical current). This type of solar panel is often used to heat water, but they are less common than the solar panel type which Stephanie has explained.

    • Photo: Christopher Nankervis

      Christopher Nankervis answered on 14 Mar 2018:


      Some solar panels are made of special materials that absorb high energy particles called photons from the sun. These are called Solar Photovoltaic cells, because they produce an electrical voltage when the sun shines on them. Other solar panels absorb thermal (heat) energy from the sun because they are darkly coloured. This heat is then pumped away through wiggly pipes (replacing warm water with more cold water) like you have in your radiator. These can be used to heat your water in your hot water tank for your shower in the morning. Combining PV units with a cooling network of pipes can work even better!

    • Photo: Stephen Twomlow

      Stephen Twomlow answered on 15 Mar 2018:


      Sorry – got me on that one – I am an agricultural and environmental scientist – say my knowledge is basis. Inside a panel you have photvoltaic cells – sorry about spelling – when sunlight falls on the they get excited and you get elections moving in the cells and and sunlight turned into electrical energy

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