The energy converter for solar photovoltaic power generation is solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells. The principle of solar cell power generation is the photovoltaic effect. When sunlight falls on the solar cell, the cell absorbs the light energy and produces photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Under the action of the built-in electric field of the battery, the photogenerated electrons and holes are separated, and the accumulation of hetero-electric charges occurs at both ends of the battery, generating the "photogenerated voltage", which is the "photovoltaic effect." If the electrodes are drawn from both sides of the internal electric field and connected to the load, the load will have a "photogenerated current" flowing through it, producing usable electricity. In this way, the sun's light energy is directly converted into electricity.
Under the same temperature, the influence of light intensity on the solar panel is that the greater the light intensity, the higher the open circuit voltage and short circuit current of the solar panel, thus increasing the maximum output power. It can also be observed that the change in open circuit voltage with irradiation intensity is not as significant as the change in short circuit current with irradiation intensity.
Under the same light intensity, changes in the panel's temperature will result in significant decreases in output open circuit voltage and only slight increases in short circuit current. This results in a decrease in the maximum output power.
Solar cell modules have high photoelectric conversion efficiency and reliability. Advanced diffusion technology ensures uniformity of conversion efficiency throughout the chip, good electrical conductivity, reliable adhesion, and good electrode weldability. High precision screen printing graphics and high flatness make the battery easy to automate welding and laser cutting.
Solar cells can be divided into different types based on the materials used, including silicon solar cells, multi-compound thin film solar cells, polymer multi-layer modified electrode solar cells, nano-crystalline solar cells, organic solar cells, and plastic solar cells. Silicon solar cells are the most mature and dominate in terms of application.
Most solar cells are made of silicon atoms. Solar cells are made from layers of silicon wafers that are about the size of a dinner plate but much thinner, only about three times thicker than an average hair.
Each silicon atom contains very small, very light electrons with a weak charge. When sunlight falls on a solar panel, it knocks one of the electrons out of its orbit, creating free electrons which, due to the nature of solar cells, move only upward, generating a current that can power home appliances.