How Solar Panels Work

Writen by Anne Clarke

Have you ever asked, "How do solar panels work?" And did you receive a blank stare as an answer to that question? Well here is the answer you are looking for, the answer to that curious question, "how do solar panels work?"

So, how do solar panels work?

Solar panels rely on the properties of silicon. You see, silicon (Si on your periodic table) has just four electrons when in its natural state. Of course, a silicon atom actually has room four 8 electrons.

One silicon atom can combine with another silicon atom to create a strong bond, sharing each others four electrons. Of course, to create electricity, you need to have a positive or negative charge. Because the two silicon atoms exactly fill each others capacity of 8, there is no positive or negative charge.

So, to create electricity, the silicon must be combined with another element that will give it a positive or negative charge. If you take silicon and combine it chemically with phosphorus (which can give 5 electrons), you end up with a negative charge. There is that one extra electron that is floating around that silicon just does not need.

To create a positive charge, silicon can be combined with an element with three electrons to offer, like boron. This positive combination allows electricity to flow.

All right, so this is all fine and good, but has it really answered the question at hand: how do solar panels work? After all, I have not even yet mentioned the sun, right? Well, be patient, the sun will enter the picture, right about now.

Sunlight has many different particles of energy, one of which is the photon. These photons hit the silicon/phosphorus atoms and knocks off the extra electron, right to where the positive silicon/boron atom can suck it in.

As this continues to happen to atom after atom, electricity is generated. Of course, for this to really work, it requires a lot of atoms, a lot of plates, a lot of solar cells… To power a house or a car, it takes a whole lot of solar panels.

Oh, so what happens to that extra electron that got thrown out of one "negative" home and thrown into the "positive" home? Well, child services take him back to his original home, just so that the process can start all over again!

And that is how solar panels work. Any more questions?

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, the enviornment, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on solar power, please visit Solar Home.