Photovoltaic solar panels

Photovoltaic solar panels

Photovoltaic (PV) technology relies on semiconductors to generate electricity directly from sunlight. Semiconductors are unique in that they’re materials whose electrons are freed when they come in contact with sunlight. These electrons are then coaxed through a circuit which either feeds electricity to a grid or powers certain devices directly. PV technology today has progressed far beyond the experimental stage and is used in myriad applications from the very small to the very large. Solar panels on a home or business are an example of the former while PV watches and calculators are examples of the latter.

The Many Advantages of PV Technology

The history of photovoltaic energy extends back to 1839 when Alexandre Becquerel first observed the PV effect in his laboratory. But while the effect certainly stirred curiosity and a bit of research nothing much was made of it until the 1950s when Bell Labs managed to create a PV device that generated a small amount of electricity. That event opened the floodgates and researchers the world over began looking into ways to capitalize. The oil shocks of the 1970s only hastened PV research.

Today solar panels - the most obvious and widespread example of PV technology - are everywhere. From enormous solar farms dotting the world’s deserts to solar panels for private residences that go a long way toward helping homeowners achieve energy independence. The advantages of PV technology are many, including:

• It helps slow climate change - Climate change is an existential threat of the first order. Solar panels and other photovoltaic technology in general are an important tool in the fight against rising temperatures resulting from the burning of fossil fuels.
• It helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil - As the West learned during the oil shocks of the 1970s the only free country is one that controls its own energy destiny. By embracing PV technology we reduce our dependence on energy from unreliable foreign sources.
• It saves you money - Studies have shown that if you put solar panels on your home 20 years ago you would have saved anywhere from £15,000 to £50,000 on energy in the years since. That’s a good chunk of your kid’s university education right there.
• It helps the larger economy by creating jobs - While jobs in the oil industry have been declining for decades jobs in PV related industries have been growing by leaps and bounds. By opting in for PV technology you become an important part of the new economy.

Once considered the stuff of science fiction fantasy photovoltaic technology has finally entered the mainstream . When you choose to install solar panels and other PV technology in and around the home you’re making a positive statement about your belief in the future, while at the same time demonstrating to your kids that you care about the type of world they will inherit. Don’t spend another minute or another pound blindly supporting the fossil fuel industry that is wreaking havoc with our world. Make the smart choice and choose clean, reliable, affordable PV technology instead, such as our thermal solar panels. Your kids will thank you.