solar panel

The definition of a solar panel is a group of silicon panels under a glass substrate.

Facts About Solar Panels

  • The glass substrate of a solar panel allows light to shine upon the silicon surface and produce electricity from the movement of electrons on the atomic level.
  • Solar panels work in both a direct and a diffuse light manner.
  • Silicon is a very good conductor but doesn’t have the ability to produce electrons when light strikes its surface. In order to generate electricity, a flow of electrons and impurities are introduced into the silicon used.
  • The electrical current generated by the light flows from the solar panel into batteries for storage in the form of DC electricity.
  • In order for the elecricity produced by the solar panels to be used in place of fossit fuel electricity, it has to be turned into AC electricity. This is accomplished by running the stored electricity through an inverter that makes the DC into AC.
  • The electricity can be used to power your house. Any extra electricity produced can be sold back to the utility company that you get your electricity from to offset your bill or if, you generate more than you use, then you can realize a profit.
  • Solar panels were originally only used in space. Solar panels now provide energy for places that are remote and that cannot use electrical lines.
  • The price of solar panels has dropped in the recent years due to the greater ability of manufacturers to create pure silicon wafers that are the starting material of a solar panel, making the use of solar panels more widespread.
(noun)

An example of a solar panel is the panel on the side of a satellite that captures sunlight to generate energy.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See solar panel in Webster's New World College Dictionary

a large, thin panel consisting of an array of solar cells, often attached to artificial satellites, rooftops, etc. to generate electricity directly from sunlight

See solar panel in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
A group of connected solar cells.

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