How Does Solar Energy Work?

Solar energy, in a nutshell, works when energy from the sun is radiated to the earth and is absorbed by solar panels, also known as solar cells where the heat energy is converted into electricity. Solar or light energy can power utilities as small as a pocket calculator, a laptop computer bag or even a complete home or office building.

In addition to converting sunlight into electricity, there are other simpler applications. For example, passive systems can be as simple as a solar oven that has a black surface that gets hotter as it absorbs sunlight within a clear containment device that lets light pass through but traps the heat inside. Many energy efficient homes are designed using this principle.

In the case of solar panels, photovoltaic cells or solar cell semiconductors produce electricity when they heat up from absorbing the sun’s energy. Because these cells store the heat, they can continue to work in the absence of light until they cool down.

There are many methods for capturing the power of the Sun’s energy, but the most common devices are “Photovoltaic cells.” These are commonly known as solar cell semiconductors that produce electricity whenever the external material is exposed to heat. The cells also naturally store thermal (heat) energy so the device the cells are powering can work when it is dark as well. Heat from the Sun is absorbed by the silicon cells and the energy is stored and converted for use by the semiconductor inside the cells.

When solar energy cells were first introduced to the public in 1941, their greatest drawback was price. They were initially very expensive. However, as the cost of manufacturing solar panels continues to decrease, while the price of electricity keeps rising, it has now reached the situation where installing solar energy panels on many homes is an investment that can pay for itself in only a matter of a few short years.