Daily Archives: August 7, 2014
Your Questions About Solar Energy Materials And Solar Cells
Maria asks…
How much fossil fuel does it take to make solar cells (energy ratio)?
Count the energy the solar cell can harvest over its lifetime. For the fossil-fuel side, you can use the chemical energy in the material, or the amount that could be obtained with heat engines, but in either event specify which measure you used.
admin answers:
I don’t think the Information on this page entirely answers your question, but it gets you a lot closer…
Http://www.jc-solarhomes.com/solar_energy_facts.htm
Paul asks…
How do solar cells work?
Hi, can anyone please tell me how solar cells work? Not in too much detail with alot of compicated terminology. I just need to know how they convert solar energy into electrical energy without all the complicated stuff.
Thanks alot!
admin answers:
Detailed Version: A solar cell is composed of a semiconductor with n-type and p-type material, that has a built-in potential at the junction. When light photons hit the semiconductor, they are absorbed and convert the photons energy into an electron and hole pair. These carriers are split by the built-in electric field of the junction in the semiconductor which outputs a current and voltage that can be used for energy.
Less complicated version: light hits a solar cell and the light is converted into a voltage and current similar to a battery which can be used to supply electrical power.
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