solar panels and photovoltaic
Solar Panels and Photovoltaic While solar panels and cells are often used interchangeably, they are two very different parts of your solar PV system . Read on to find out the difference between the two and how to use the terms correctly. The Role of photovoltaic panels. To get started, we will first look at the role of solar cells in your solar PV system. Your solar cells generate electricity through the photoelectric panels effect , where sunlight creates electricity in certain materials by knocking out their outer electrons. The top semiconductor is a negative layer because the atoms in the material contain excess electrons that carry a negative charge. In contrast, the bottom semiconductor is a positive layer because there are no electrons in the atoms of the material. When sunlight hits the upper semiconductor, free electrons are excited, repelled, and then attracted to the positive layer below it. A ba...