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systems > photovoltaic energy
Our
home uses photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight
directly into electrical energy. These solid-state
semiconductors use a thin layer of silicon or other
semiconductor material to convert the energy from
the sun into an electric current. Silicon
is one of a handful of materials that display the
ability to capture the energy of the sun.
The electrical power that can be extracted from a
photovoltaic cell is proportional to its area and
to the intensity of the sunlight that hits the area,
and is measured in watts (W). Due to a number of factors,
this energy conversion is not very efficient, usually
in the range of 12% on a sunny day for the silicon
solar cells we're using.
Usually,
PV cells are combined into panels that are then mounted
in PV arrays. Visit the electrical systems section
of this site to learn more about the design of the
Photovoltaic system in our home.
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