PV CELLS

PV cells are the basis of photovoltaic technology

and are made up of semiconducting materials
such as the often used single-crystal silicon. In
case polycrystalline silicon is used, it is a thin film
on the base of glass or plastic that is not
expensive.

At times, thin films of amorphous non-crystalline

silicon are also used (although they are not as
efficient as crystalline silicon-based technologies),
as amorphous silicon cells are not very expensive
to manufacture due to the fact that the process is
easier and the silicon required is very less.
Materials such as indium, tellurium, gallium,
cadmium, copper, and selenium are used in
combinations in the manufacturing of PV devices.

Size of the PV cell, intensity of light source, and

conversion efficiency of the cell will reflect upon
the quantity of electricity produced. As PV
technologies are used in applications of varying
sizes, a PV system may contain the following
components based on the load:
  Solar trackers – for tracking the sun and
ensuring optimal solar gain of the PV array
Battery-charge controllers –for controlling
overcharge and over- discharge of the
batteries
 Batteries - for storing electricity for later use
when the sun is not shining
 Converters - for converting the voltage of the
PV system to a higher or lower voltage
 Engine generators – mainly found in hybrid
systems for providing backup power as well as
charge for the batteries
 Inverters - for converting direct current (dc)
electricity to alternating current (ac) electricity.

Solar panel efficiency is a measurement of a

solar panel’s ability to convert sunlight into
usable electricity. Given the same amount of
sunlight shining for the same duration of time on
two solar panels with different efficiency ratings,
the more efficient panel will produce more
electricity than the less efficient panel. Solar
panel efficiency is determined by the production
of electricity by solar cells, which is in turn
influenced by the cells’ composition, electrical
configuration, surrounding components, and
more.
Given the same amount of sunlight shining for the
same duration of time on two solar panels with
different efficiency ratings, the more efficient panel
will produce more electricity than the less efficient
panel. Solar panel efficiency is determined by the
production of electricity by solar cells, which are
in turn influenced by composition, electrical
configuration, surrounding components, and more.
In practical terms, for two solar panels of the same
physical size, if one has a 21% efficiency rating
and the other has a 14% efficiency rating, the 21%
efficient panel will produce 50% more kilowatt-
hours (kWh) of electricity under the same
conditions as the 14% efficient panel. Thus,
maximizing energy use and bill savings is heavily
reliant on having top-tier solar panel efficiency.
Many consumers and people in the solar industry
consider solar panel efficiency to be the most
important criterion when assessing a solar panel’s
quality. While it is an important criterion, it’s not the
only one to consider while you evaluate whether to
install a particular solar panel. Solar panel
efficiency relates to the ability of the panel
to convert energy at a low cost and high supply
rate.

The following are some of the key applications of

photovoltaics:
  Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) –
They can be located near the building, on its
roof, or integrated into the building itself.
 Cost-effective solar solutions for remote
places
 Solar-powered LED lighting
 Auxiliary power for boats and cars
 As electric power for use in space
 To power calculators and novelty devices

The various types of PV installations are listed

below:

 Grid systems - This is the most commonly

used PV system. It basically is a solar system
that is connected to the utility power grid,
which provides a 99% efficiency. The excess
electricity produced by the solar panels can be
transferred to the grid, thus lowering the
electricity bill. It does not require batteries and
generally is cheaper and simpler to install.
 Off-grid systems – These are also called
stand-alone solar systems as they are not
connected to a power grid. They require
constant access to electricity, thus requiring
battery storage and even diesel backup
generators. Batteries have to be replaced and
are expensive. However, this system is
chosen as a cost-effective alternative to power
remote places rather than extending power
lines to those places.
LAMA AHMAD SALAMEH
STUDENT NUMBER:201910417
SECTION:1