How Does Solar Power Work?

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How Does Solar Power Work?
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How Does Solar Power Work?
The amount of sunlight the earth gets for an hour
and a half is sufficient to take care of the
energy needs of the entire world for a year. This
energy source leads to a reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions and combats climate change. This
shows how vital solar power is becoming as the
days pass by. The adoption of solar power is on a
tremendous rise across the globe, and India is
one of the major beneficiaries. If we take a
sneak peek in recent years, India has progressed
greatly when it comes to solar energy as a
renewable energy source. It is a fabulous
eco-friendly source of energy as it converts
sunlight, which is basically unlimited in nature.
This article will detail the mechanics behind
solar power generation and will let you know how
you can benefit from solar power.
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What are Solar panels?
Simply said, solar panels are devices that
capture sunlight and convert it into electricity.
These solar panels are made of photovoltaic
cells, glass, and a metal frame. The most common
type of solar cells used is made from crystalline
silicon. This is treated with elements like
phosphorous and boron to create something called
a p-n junction. This junction is important
because it generates an electric field that makes
the flow of electricity smoother when exposed to
sunlight. With that being said, let us shift our
focus to photovoltaic cells for a moment. These
are the core components of solar panels. Without
them, light energy cannot be converted into
electricity. Sunlight energizes electrons,
causing them to become activated and mobile. This
excitement creates electron-hole pairs. The
electric current separates the charge carriers,
resulting in an electric flow. Without PV cells,
solar panels are simply functionless.
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What are Solar panels?
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How Do Solar Panels Generate Electricity
1. Absorption of Sunlight
The process begins with the absorption of
sunlight, which occurs when sunlight or photons
strike the surface of a solar cell, a series of
interactions.  The silicon atoms absorb the
photons with enough energy. This excites the
electrons and allows them to break free from
their bonds. This creates electron-hole pairs.
The freed electrons carry a negative charge while
the absence of electrons creates holes with a
positive charge.  This phenomenon creates
electron-hole pairs, where the freed electrons
carry a negative charge while the absence of
electrons creates holes with a positive charge.
The electric field built into the solar cell
separates these charges. And that is how the flow
of electrons is directed toward the external
circuit.
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How Do Solar Panels Generate Electricity
2. The Photovoltaic Effect
This effect is the fundamental process by which
electrons create electric current in solar cells,
all thanks to photovoltaic technology. The
electrons within the semiconductor material are
energised when sunlight strikes the PV cell. This
energy allows the creation of electron-hole
pairs.  Once freed, the electric field created
at the p-n junction controls the movement of
electrons toward the n-type layer and holes
toward the p-type layer. As electrons move
through an external circuit to return to the
position they were before, they generate an
electric current. 
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How Do Solar Panels Generate Electricity
3. Creation of Electric Field
An electric field is created in solar cells by
the interaction between p-type and n-type silicon
layers. Using elements like born, the -type
silicon is doped to create holes. On the other
hand, n-type silicon is doped with elements like
phosphorous. This results in excess free
electrons.  The electrons from the n-type layer
move into the p-type layer when these two silicon
layers are put in contact. This leads to the
filling of some of the holes and this movement
creates something called a depletion zone. A
depletion zone is basically a zone where there
are no free-charge carriers. This results in the
creation of an internal electric field. This
electric is important because it separates the
electron-hole pairs.
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How Do Solar Panels Generate Electricity
4. Generating Direct Current (DC)
As we have seen the flow of electrons earlier, we
should know that they move in a unidirectional
manner. That is, they move from the negative side
to the positive side. As a result, the flow of
electric charge is continuous. This kind of flow
is something that can be found in DC electricity.
In the case of AC, however, the flow is reversed
periodically.
5. Inversion to Alternating Current (AC)
Direct current is converted into alternating
current using an inverter. Something known as an
H-Bridge is used in inverters which helps in the
conversion. The H-Bridge rapidly switches the DC
powers direction. This is essentially mimicking
the behaviour of AC. 
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How Do Solar Panels Generate Electricity
6. Distribution and Usage
After the electricity is generated and converted
into AC, it is distributed to homes and the
electrical grid. In homes and other residential
settings, AC is used for household appliances,
lighting, and heating systems. This reduces the
reliance on the grid and lowers bills. Plus,
owners can track of their energy consumption
through meters.  Excess electricity produced
during sunny days can be supplied back to the
grid. The process of doing so is known as net
metering. Owners can receive credits for the
contribution they make in the form of excess
electricity. And the said credits can be used in
the future to lower the electricity
bills.  Moreover, there are some systems that use
battery storage to store excess energy. The
stored energy can be used at a later time as
backup power, generally during outages or at
night.
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What are solar plants?
A solar power plant is a facility that converts
solar radiation, consisting of light, heat, and
ultraviolet radiation, into electricity which is
suitable to be used in homes and industries. The
process of electricity production in a solar
plant is ecological and it is the most efficient
renewable energies that currently
exist. Depending on its operating system, there
are two main types of solar plants solar thermal
power plants and solar photovoltaic plants.
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Whats the difference between solar PV panels and
solar thermal panels?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and solar thermal
panels serve different purposes when using solar
energy.  Solar PV panels convert sunlight
directly into electricity using the photovoltaic
effect. Solar thermal panels capture sunlight to
generate heat, typically for heating water.  In
terms of efficiency, solar thermal systems are
more efficient compared to solar PV systems. In
terms of space, when compared to solar PV panels,
thermal panels dont need much roof space. They
can reach same level of energy output with
smaller spaces.
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Whats the difference between solar PV panels and
solar thermal panels?
Technologically speaking, solar thermal panels
are simpler than PV panels. Because of this
simplicity, maintenance requirements and costs
over time can be reduced. Depending on the size
of the installation, a solar PV panel can be more
expensive than a thermal PV panel.
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Solar energy in India
The Sun has been worshiped as a life-giver to our
planet since ancient times in India. And with the
understanding of converting sunlight into
electricity gifted us with the most sustainable
energy.  Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat are
leading states in solar generation, contributing
significantly to Indias ambitious target of
achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by
2030.  Many government schemes have been
launched in India to encourage the usage of solar
energy. India is rapidly advancing its solar
energy landscape through strategic government
initiatives like the PM Kusum Yojana,
Decentralized Renewable Energy Program (DREPB),
and captive solar power schemes. 
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Solar energy in India
Under the emerging renewable energy landscape and
DREPM scheme, KPI Energy offers a strategic solar
plant investment model. By investing ?3.31 Cr.
for a 1 MWp solar installation with 100 equity,
investors can potentially generate approximately
?3,81,134 monthly revenue in the initial 5-year
operational period. If you grab this opportunity
to invest in renewable energy, you can expect a
huge benefit while making a difference on the
plant. These comprehensive programs aim to
promote renewable energy adoption, reduce
electricity costs, and support Indias ambitious
goal. By offering financial incentives and
targeting both rural and urban sectors, the
government is transforming Indias energy
infrastructure and driving sustainable
development.
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Benefits of Solar Power
Needless to say, solar power is way better for
the environment than any other power generators
that use fossil fuels. Because of the increased
usage of solar power, greenhouse gas emissions
have been reduced greatly. And, as a result of
which, the carbon footprint is lowered. On the
other hand, solar power is a great choice when
you are looking at it from an economic
standpoint. Because of the reduced electricity
bills and potential income from net metering, you
can rest assured economically when using solar
power.
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Conclusion
To wrap things up, solar power is a great choice
if you are looking for an environmentally
friendly and cost-effective way to generate
power. Through a sophisticated and advanced
process, solar power not only reduces carbon
emissions and combats the changing climate. With
the rise of solar power in India, it is best if
you can partner with a reliable solar power
company to work toward sustainability and
contribute to a cleaner and greener future.
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Thank you, KP Group.