Powerplants on Rooftops
Energy from the Sun
Energy from the Sun
Copyright © [1974-2014] [American Solar Roof, Inc.] All rights reserved
NASA Vanguard Satellite - 1958
Basic Definition of Photovoltaics
Photo: Light, “photons” or units of the sun’s energy
Voltaics: the generation of electricity (after “Alexander Volta”, who discovered electromotive force)
· A solar (PV) cell is one that converts sunlight to electricity.
· PV cells perform this conversion without any moving parts, noise, pollution, radiation,
or maintenance.
· PV cells are made of a semiconductor material which is treated to create a positive charge layer
and a negative charge layer
· When sunlight strikes a PV cell, an electron is dislodged. These loose electrons are gathered by
wires attached to the cell, forming an electrical current.
Photo: Light, “photons” or units of the sun’s energy
Voltaics: the generation of electricity (after “Alexander Volta”, who discovered electromotive force)
· A solar (PV) cell is one that converts sunlight to electricity.
· PV cells perform this conversion without any moving parts, noise, pollution, radiation,
or maintenance.
· PV cells are made of a semiconductor material which is treated to create a positive charge layer
and a negative charge layer
· When sunlight strikes a PV cell, an electron is dislodged. These loose electrons are gathered by
wires attached to the cell, forming an electrical current.