| Solar energy, sometimes referred to as solar power, is the light and radiant heat from the Sun that reaches the Earth’s surface and influences the climate and weather. Solar energy can be converted into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity.
Solar energy technologies can provide electrical generation by photovoltaic means. Photovoltaic energy is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. A photovoltaic cell (PV), or solar cell, is the technology used to covert solar energy directly into electrical power.
Sunlight is composed of photons (i.e. particles of solar energy), which contain various amounts of energy. When photons hit a photovoltaic cell the absorbed photons provide energy to generate electricity. When enough sunlight (energy) is absorbed by the material (the silicon in the solar panel), electrons are dislodged from the material's atoms.
The performance of a photovoltaic system is dependent upon sunlight. Climate conditions, such as clouds, have a significant effect on the amount of solar energy received by a photovoltaic system and, in turn, its performance.
Three main advantages of solar energy: it is free, its supplies are unlimited and using solar energy produces no air or water pollution.
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