How exactly does a solar panel work

Solar panels may seem like a new and modern addition to our world.  It’s becoming increasingly common to see new properties being built with them. If you have an older property, you can still gain access to a solar panel. Solar Panel Installation Burnham based https://redbridgeandsons.co.uk can come and quote and see if it’s a possibility for them to be added to your roof or another part of your building. Solar panels were first used after their discovery in the 19th century. A French physicist named Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel discovered an effect that has come to be known as photovoltaic. Becquerel found that certain substances could create electricity when exposed to sunlight. However, it took another 80 years before scientists in the USA could create the forerunner of solar panels we know today. This involved using silicon, the perfect material for the photovoltaic effect.

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The photovoltaic effect discovered by Becquerel is a process where sunlight is converted to an electrical charge. The scientific method is relatively simple: when the sunlight hits the silicon, it begins to make the electrons within the atoms of the silicon move quickly. This movement generates an electrical charge that can be harnessed to power all sorts of items within the home. Alternatively, it can be stored in a battery for later use.

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The practical implications are that a home with a solar panel could effectively become self-sufficient in its energy production and use without drawing on the National Grid or fossil fuels.

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