Solar energy is the call of this century. Amidst rapid urbanisation and increasing use of non-renewable resources to achieve modern development purposes, solar energy as a cleaner and greener alternative is picking up supporters. Apart from not harming the environment, types of solar energy systems are often deemed to be better for certain kinds of industrial and household uses.

In this blog, we will dive deep into the unit that makes up a solar energy system. We will learn about solar cells and how they function.

What is a Solar Cell?

A solar cell, mostly referred to as a photovoltaic cell, is the basic unit of a solar energy system.  It's the fundamental component through which the energy of the sun is gathered and used by people. A solar cell converts the energy of light to electricity. Electricity can be used for a number of things, even for running water pumps! For more information regarding the same, read What is a solar water pump?

●   Solar cells are mostly made from crystalline silicon to boost efficiency. They don't use chemical compounds like our day-to-day batteries.

●   Solar cells work using the photovoltaic effect and several such cells are incorporated. Sunlight is composed of photons that carry energy.

●   The combined output of many solar cells can be used for driving many appliances in your home.

●   On a much larger scale, applications in the form of solar furnaces can derive turbines or smelt metals. Not limited to just generating electricity, the energy can be stored in batteries for future use.

Functioning of a Solar cell

A Photovoltaic (PV) cell, or solar helps to convert light energy into electricity through the photovoltaic effect.

●   The common silicon cell on average produces around 0.5 to 0.6 volts of open circuit voltage. They can even work in artificial light. A photovoltaic cell can also be used to detect light or electromagnetic radiation, in addition to electricity generation.

●   The operation of a PV cell requires some conditions. The absorption of light generates unbound electrons and plasmons.

●   This is followed by the separation of charge carriers of opposite types (p-n types).

●   For the next step, the carriers are moved to an external circuit. Silicon is used in these cells because of its properties as a semiconductor that exhibits photovoltaic effects.

●   The electricity generated by solar cells is direct current which is converted to alternating current for use in homes or businesses.

Types of Solar Cells

Solar cells come in different varieties and it's often the scale and needs for which a solar system is being established that determines which type of solar cell would one go for.

●   Monocrystalline cells: Monocrystalline cells are made from just one silicon piece that is monocrystalline, hence the name. As highly efficient cells made from single silicon crystals, they require less space. To the top of this list of advantages, they are super durable and even perform nicely if the area receives less sunlight due to certain weather conditions. They are comparatively more expensive than any other cell type.

●   Polycrystalline Solar Cells: Solar panels made from these types of cells are perfectly shaped due to their manufacturing process. The silicon here is melted and poured into square-shaped moulds to make perfectly shaped cells. There is almost no silicon wastage and the efficiency is not too affected in higher temperature areas. They also require more space, for example since their productivity is less you will need a large area of the roof covered with these panels to achieve your needed output.

●   Thin Film Solar Cells: These thin film solar cells are made by arranging many thin layers of photovoltaic on top of each other as a stack. Depending upon the material used, it is further bifurcated into Amorphous silicon, Cadmium telluride, etc. They have great potential for future advancement and to be flexibly used for several different purposes. They are however much larger than what's used for households. Their lifespan as of now is shorter and they usually take up more space.

●   Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC): These cells are emerging to be one of the most commonly used solar cells for making solar panels. They feature an extra layer to the back side of the panel to reflect the rays of the sun back to the surface of the solar panel. As a modified form of previous technology, they take almost the same raw material but aim to produce a higher effectiveness. The only major drawback is the damage to the metal strips between the solar cells. This can be overcome by replacing such materials with stronger and more resilient materials.

With KLK, for any type of solar cell and panels, you are bound to get your money and time's worth because we promise the best quality and premium efficiency.

Which Solar Cell is Best For You?

Firstly when you venture out to determine what solar cell or panel holds the best prospects for you, what comes first is an analysis of what your aspirations from this investment are.

A proper estimate of the type of use or the kind of need you have from a solar structure will help to narrow down the best type of solar cell for you.

●   For example, depending on the type of climate and availability of sunlight you can determine which cells will prove to be more effective.

●   Another important parameter can be the type of task you want to achieve. For a scope limited to one house, an efficient cell panel that occupies less space will be preferred.

●   On the other hand, for large-scale industrial work or for driving the energy of a large building, efficiency and return on investment will become major concerns.

Why KLK Ventures?

Solar energy is being promoted through government and other channels due to its many advantages to you and the environment around us. To make it a reality, KLK ventures with its team of learned experts here to guide you through this investment process. We offer proper services to avoid additional troubles.

From installation services to regular maintenance and repair work, we cover it all.

Our work is a part of our contribution to bringing this amazing technology to your homes so that you can save your money over the long term and our nature is protected too. With our on-the-grid and off-the-grid alternatives, KLK Ventures is going to prove to be a storehouse of quality and guarantee to all.