SOLARENERGY

What are photovoltaics? Photovoltaic (PV) cells are solid-state semiconductor devices that convert light directly into electricity. They are usually made of silicon with traces of other elements and are first cousins to transistors, LEDs and other electronic devices. Through the external circuit they give up their energy as useful work (turning motors, lighting lamps, etc.) and return to the solar cell. The PV process is completely solid state and self-contained. There are no moving parts and no materials are consumed or emitted... Simply put, photovoltaic tiles and other forms of solar energy work by converting some of the energy in sunlight into a clean form of electricity that can be used in our houses. The PV cells consist of a positive and a negative slice of silicon placed under a thin slice of glass. As the protons of the sunlight beat down onto the PV cell, they knock the neutrons off the silicon. The negatively charged free neutrons are attracted to the silicon but are..