What Is a Solar Module?
Solar modules, also called photovoltaic modules, are groups of solar cells that are placed into solar panels and arranged in an array. They are used to gather sunlight for solar energy.
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Structure
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Solar panels can be placed in the roofs of houses to give homeowners a free source of renewable energy. Solar modules have between 34 and 72 interconnected cells. The cells are arranged in a thin network and sandwiched between a plate and a sheet of glass. Usually, they are made of crystalline material, but may be made of flexible or amorphous materials.
How They Work
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What look like wings on satellites are actually solar panels. The cells inside a solar module gather photons from the sunlight and convert them into electricity using p-n junction diodes. This process is called the Photovoltaic Effect.
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Energy Output and Efficiency
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Fields of solar panels are used for large-scale energy gathering rather than individual use. Approximately 10 to 13 percent of sunlight is converted into electricity in commercially made solar modules. Modules may produced as much as 200 watts of electricity in crystalline designs. Scientists estimate that a 100-watt module may prevent as much as 2 tons of CO2 emissions in its lifetime.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Sun image by KPICKS from Fotolia.com Solar Panel image by kuhar from Fotolia.com communications satellite image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com paneles solares image by Jose Juan Castellano from Fotolia.com
