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Solar Panels

Solar panels use energy from the suns light to generate electricity that can be used like energy from fuels.  This is possible through the photo-electric effect which creates voltage between two materials using radiation as the main electric source.  To ensure this process works the materials, usually silicon, must be connected to one another and the rest of the panel.  The panel must be protected from damage and moisture at all time to ensure its safe generation of electricity.  There are many types and designs of panels so they can be used for personal production of electricity or widespread production for communities or business’.

There are three types of solar panels that are available and each are constructed for different methods of use. 

Monocrystalline Panels are made from large pieces of silicon shaped like crystal.  This panel is the most effective type in absorbing light from the sun and converting it to electricity.  They are also the most expensive type of panel.  They are usually purchased to power large amounts of energy  in communities or business’, however, smaller models can be purchased for smaller use. 

Polycrystalline panels are the most common type of panels on the market.  They resemble shattered glass and absorb light through the multiple refractions it creates.  They are slightly less efficient then monocrystalline, however, they are also less expensive.  Instead of one large silicon crystal this model uses many small ones. 

Amorphous panels are made of a thin film that is made from silicon and spread across large plates of stainless steel.  They have lower efficiency then the other two types and are the cheapest to produce.  The advantage of amorphous panels is that they are shadow protected which means that the panel will still charge if part of it is a shadow. 

Depending on the type of solar panel that you purchase you will be able to produce different amounts of electricity from them.

 

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