Photovoltaic (PV) cells, also known as solar cells, change sunlight directly into electricity. They’re made of a special material called semiconductor. When sunlight hits a PV cell, it knocks electrons loose from the atoms in the material. These loose electrons create electricity. PV cells are small, but when many are put together in a weatherproof panel, they can generate more electricity. Several panels linked together make up a PV array, which can power things like water pumps, homes, or even whole communities.
Usually, PV cells produce direct current (DC) electricity, but most devices run on alternating current (AC). To use the electricity from PV cells, it’s converted from DC to AC using a device called an inverter. The efficiency of PV systems, meaning how well they turn sunlight into electricity, varies. Modern ones are about 25% efficient, but experimental ones have reached nearly 50%. PV systems are versatile, powering everything from small gadgets like calculators to large-scale projects like supplying electricity to towns. They’re also great for places where there’s no electricity grid. PV technology has been around since the 1950s and has improved a lot, becoming more common due to lower costs and better technology.
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