Photovoltaic Panels

 

  Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels generate electricity using from light. The word ‘photovoltaic’ is pronounced fotovoltayik, which comes from Latin: photo (meaning light) + voltaic (meaning energy).

Photovoltaic panels and tiles are made up from several solar cells, which are made from silicon, one of the most abundant elements on Earth. The cells are wired together inside the panels and produce direct current (DC) when exposed to light.

Photovoltaic panels and slates produce energy from daylight, not direct sunlight, so they still produce electricity on cloudy or overcast days. The DC electricity produced is normally converted into alternating current (AC) for use in homes and buildings, by an inverter situated in the loft or near a building’s fuse board.

Some people think that solar panels take more energy to manufacture than they generate in their lifetime, which is entirely untrue.  The attached document from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the US, shows that the average panel will pay back the energy used to manufacture it in less than 4 years, and with at least a 30 year lifetime that gives 26 years of pollution free energy generation. 

Solarcentury provide a wide variety of photovoltaic panels from a selection of the world's most trusted solar panel manufacturers. As an entirely independent solar energy company we can offer a choice of photovoltaic solar panels for your project while offering short lead times and competitive prices.



The first of our ten working principles is on ‘products’ and states: Our customers have a wide choice of the most effective and appropriate, cost-effective and well-engineered solar solutions from a company aiming for the most reliable sales and installation service.

We regularly visit  our manufacturer’s facilities to make sure all the photovoltaic panels we buy are of the highest quality and produced to the highest standards. We do not buy photovoltaics from companies we have not visited in order to ensure they adhere to all relevant health and safety, working conditions and environmental standards.

As the most experienced solar photovoltaic company in the UK, we have introduced many new photovoltaic modules to the UK market and supply a large number of the smaller installers in the UK.

Resources:

Photovoltaic Panels and Energy Payback  (PDF)