How Does a Solar Generator Work?

With the rise of solar technology comes a natural curiosity about where this technology may lead us and how it works. Despite the growing presence of solar technology in our society, many of us are still curious about where it comes from and how we are able to utilize sunlight to create useable energy. Many people are surprised to discover that even though solar power seems like a complicated process, the way it works is actually very straightforward. Solar energy is able to be harnessed through devices called photovoltaic cells.

These cells are made from a semi-conductive material and are able to soak in photons that come from the sunlight and turn them into useable energy. However, in order for this process to be able to work, there has to first be an electric field. This is achieved by treating the semi-conductive materials with elements that will change their original charge. When creating a photovoltaic cell, the most common semi-conductive material that is chosen is silicone.

It takes two pieces of silicone to create a photovoltaic cell, but in order for this to happen, they need to be charged in a way that allows them to create an electric field. In order for an electric field to be created, there needs to be a collision between positive and negative charges. Therefore, the silicone needs to be charged with elements that are capable of producing one positive and one negative charge. This is usually done by using phosphorus and boron.

One piece of silicone is taken and treated with phosphorus. This adds electrons to the silicone, making its charge negative. Then, the second piece of silicone is taken and treated with boron. This takes electrons away from the silicone and makes the charge positive. Once this has been done, the two pieces of silicone are laid on top of one another, creating an electric field. When the electric field is created, it can be laid out into the sun and absorb photons from the sun.

When the sunlight hits the electric field and it absorbs the photons, the energy it absorbs is able to free electrons from their atoms. These electrons can then be gathered and converted into useable energy. This is done by combining the photovoltaic cells to create one solar panel. The solar panel has metal ends at either side that is able to gather the freed electrons. Then, these electrons are carried through wires that are able to transfer them to our devices that need to be recharged.

Solar Power vs Gas Generator

With our growing dependence on electricity as a power source, more and more people are becoming aware of the need for added precautions in case of power outages and emergencies like having a backup generator on hand. However, when it comes to finding the best generator for them to use, they struggle to determine which one will do them the best. This is a natural concern since you want to make sure that you’ll be able to have enough power to last you and your family until the power crisis is over.

However, many people end up choosing a gas-fueled option over solar power simply because they are uncertain about how effective solar power can be. When solar power was first being investigated, it didn’t always lead to the most effective results. The earlier photovoltaic cells weren’t able to generate electric fields that were powerful enough to produce timely results. Additionally, there wasn’t enough technology to enable the photovoltaic cells to capture enough of the sun’s energy to make useable energy when it’s cloudy outside.

However, the new prototypes are something different. The new prototypes are able to utilize more powerful semi-conductive materials to ensure that they are able to generate more powerful electric fields. This enables them to capture more energy – both in cloudy and ideal weather conditions. It also means that we are finally able to use solar energy as a power source that we can rely on instead of a backup fuel source.

Before solar energy was able to make so many advances, a lot of people thought of it as an energy source that was only good as a second option or something that needed to be supplemented with another power source. And at the time, the best and most reliable fuel source that people thought to turn to was gas. This was an unideal option for many reasons, but perhaps one of the most obvious is simply because of the limited supply of gas that we have.

Gas is a finite resource, whereas solar energy is infinitely available. Regardless of how much gas you store in case of emergency, there will always be more sunlight available to use than gas – and you won’t have to pay for it. Additionally, gas isn’t a clean energy source. When combusted, it produces an unhealthy carbon footprint that harms the earth’s atmosphere. These reasons combined make gas a fuel source that you should avoid rather than embrace.

Solar Power vs Diesel Generator

While many people acknowledge gas’ negative impact on the environment, those who would prefer to have a tangible fuel source would still rather invest in diesel fuel than solar energy. However, despite the benefits of a diesel generator, solar power still comes out on top. Solar energy frees you from the confines of a finite resource and enables you to make energy wherever you are.

While you do have to have a certain amount of power generated before you’re able to use this power, it is still more reliable than a traditional generator. This means that you’ll be able to have power regardless of what your situation is as long as you can put the solar panels in an area that is able to soak up enough sunlight.

Advantages of Solar Energy Over Traditional Generators?

If you’re still interested in investing in gas or diesel fuel over solar energy, you should take some time to really consider what the tradeoffs are. While you may be able to get power instantly by using gas, you’ll be limited by the space you can use it in. Additionally, a gas generator requires you to have a well-ventilated area if you want to operate the device without exposing yourself to carbon dioxide or other dangerous byproducts whereas a solar panel doesn’t produce any emissions and can store energy for later use. Although there are very obvious benefits that are associated with having a gas or diesel generator, you’ll be far better off investing in solar energy.