|
Here comes the sun
Solar technologies use the sun to provide energy for homes,
businesses and industry. Electricity produced by harnessing the energy of the sun
can be used to provide hot water, and to heat, cool and light buildings.
For example, photovoltaic systems convert sunlight directly
into electricity. Solar cells are often used to power calculators and watches.
They are made of semiconducting materials similar to those used in computer
chips. When sunlight is absorbed by these materials, the solar energy knocks
electrons loose from their atoms, allowing the electrons to flow through the
material to produce electricity. This process of converting light (photons)
to electricity (voltage) is called the photovoltaic (PV) effect.
Additional links on this topic:
|
