Photovoltaic Cells

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Photovoltaic Cells

• By Charity Henderson Laura Metzler

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What are Photovoltaics?

• Sunlight Energy
• Absorb solar energy from the sun
• Transforms the energy into electricity

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What Are Photovoltaics Continued (Rochester Solar)

• Flat Silicon Containing Panels
• Three Types

• Poly-Crystalline Micro-crystalline
  Thin film Panel
• Multiple silicon crystals Single large
  silicon crystal several microns
  thick
• 
  
  used for shingles
• Can be Mounted on Roof, Pole, Or Ground

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Why Use Photovoltaics?(Rochester Solar)

• Renewable Energy
• Uses only the suns energy
• 2kW system prevents 3,843 lbs of CO2 pollution by
  in one year

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Why Continued

• An average 2 kW system can reduce electricity
  consumption in an average house by 30( Nyserda)
• In Energy Star homes it can be as much as 50(
  Lessord)
• Use of a 2 kW system can reduce energy costs by
  32 a month (Nyserda)
• New York State offers tax credits and incentives
  that can reduce cost by 50

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How do Photovoltaics Work?

• Consists of 2 sheets of differently coated
  silicon
• Creates an electrical field in the junction
  between the sheets
• Upper sheet absorbs photons of light, releasing
  electrons from the silicon (New Zealand PV)

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How Continued

• Through contact with the electrical field in the
  junction, the electrons reach the bottom layer of
  silicon and return to the top layer
• The action creates electric current, which is
  conducted by the metallic contact finger (U of R)

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How Continued

• Because the current produced is direct current
  (DC), and most homes and businesses run on
  alternation current (AC), a typical PV system
  also includes a device called an inverter to
  change the power to a useable form.( New Zealand
  PV)

• Batteries also used to store power not
  immediately being used.
• PV energy can be sold back to a utility company,
  causing the meter to run backwards

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Where is PV used?
Three Largest Markets (94 of growth)

• Germany
• 137 annual growth rate
• Japan
• 22 annual growth rate (maintained)
• United States
• 25 annual growth rate
• (IEA PV)

• Also Used in Australia, Austria, Canada,
  Denmark, France, Israel, Italy, Republic of
  Korea, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
  Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

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Who is using PV power?

• Homes
• Businesses
• Colleges

• Rochester Solar Technologies
• HSBC Bank
• Westchester Community College
• SUNY Brockport??

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Conclusion

• Photovoltaic Solar Cell technology is a viable
  source of renewable energy.
• It has already been implemented in homes and
  businesses of many countries.
• The market for PV is growing annually because
  they are a practical energy alternative.
• This is a technology that every homeowner can
  look into information is abundant and local.

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Works Cited

• IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Program. Trends in
  Photovoltaic Applications. Available at
  http//www.iea-pvps.org/isr/index.htm
• University of Rochester. What Are Photovoltaics?.
  Available at http//www.history.rochester.edu/cla
  ss/PV/whatspv.html
• Lessord, Kara, of Rochester Solar Technologies.
  (Spoken material)

• New Zealand Photovoltaics. Frequently Asked
  Questions About Photovoltaics. Available at
  http//www.photovoltaics.org.nz/faq.html
• http//www.nypa.gov/press/2006/061227a.htm
• Rochester Solar Technologies. Solar Education.
  Available at http//www.rochsolartech.com
• Solar Electric Energy Pamphlet. NYSERDA.