Introduction to Solar Energy
- jpgiovannettone
- Feb 27
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 6
Renewable energy does not consume fossil fuels, and therefore, results in very little emissions and does not consume finite resources. Popular forms of renewable energy include solar, wind, hydroelectric (i.e., water), geothermal, and biofuels, each of which will be covered in other articles. This and other articles focus on the first energy type....solar.
Solar energy is generated through the use of solar modules (often referred to as solar panels). The installation and use of solar modules can seem like an overwhelming idea to actually implement, so I would like to approach this topic in small steps. Today we will only focus on understanding how a solar module works, how they are installed, and what considerations are required to determine how effective solar modules would be for your home or business. A brief explanation of each of these points is provided in the following video:
This next video elaborates a bit more specifically on how an individual solar cell within a solar module works:
The basic idea is that two layers exist in a solar cell, one of which is negatively-charged with extra electrons and one of which is positively-charged with extra spaces or holes for electrons. Light can dislodge electrons from the layer containing extra electrons; some of these electrons are forced to move through a circuit that extends throughout your house to return to the layer of the solar cell that has spaces for extra electrons. Since items in your house requiring electricity are connected to this circuit, the movement of the electrons will provide energy to power them.
Helpful Hint
If you are curious to learn more about how solar works, search for additional videos and literature on this topic. And please feel free to share any valuable resources you would recommend.
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