Solar Panel Essentials: From Sunlight to Power Production

Back Nikola Nedoklanov 8 min read January 16, 2024 1682 words
Solar panels in the forest, illustration

Solar panels produce electricity by converting sunlight into direct current (DC). How do they work, what components are involved, and what are the considerations when and placing them? In this article, we’ll delve into these questions. We’ll discuss the workings of solar panels, their high-level components, and some practical aspects of working with them.

In This Article:

How do Solar Panels Work?

Solar panels host an array of solar cells, which produce the electricity that solar panels are known for. The job of the solar panel is to keep the cells exposed to the sunlight and protect them from the elements.
Solar panels vary in size mainly as a function of how many solar cells they contain.

How do Solar Cells Produce Electricity

Solar cells are composed of two semiconductor layers, usually made of silicon. These layers absorb sunlight, which in turn energises the electrons within the silicon. The interaction between the two layers creates an electric field that helps to generate direct current electricity, referred to as DC.

Solar panels are advertised by their maximum power potential. However, solar panels do not produce power; they generate current and voltage. A panel’s power is the product of the voltage and current flowing through a resistance. This is defined as P=U*I, where P signifies electric power , U is the voltage, and I is the current. In summary, the power output of a solar panel depends on the number of solar cells in it and their efficiency.

How Efficient Are The Solar Cells in a Typical Solar Panel?

Solar cells in typical home solar panels utilise only around 20% of the sunlight energy. In the near future, we will see a noticeable improvement in efficiency. Competing researchers are already developing 30% and higher effective solar cells for mass production. Solar panels are rated for peak power production based on the number of solar cells and the cells’ efficiency. The power production varies, though.

What are the High-Level Components?

Solar panel simplified diagram
  • Electric connectors - negative and positive poles
  • Metal frame
    • Panels come with pre-drilled holes for easy mounting. In addition, some panels have hooks that can be used for managing cables.
  • Solar cells on a flat surface shielded by a transparent screen - this is the most prominent element of the panel.

What is the Size of Solar Panels?

Solar panels are surprisingly large. When looking at installed solar panels, our vantage point can mislead our judgment on their size. The more common dimensions are about roughly 1.6m to 2.2m (approximately 5’ 3" to 7’ 3") by 1m to 1.3m (approximately 3’ 3" to 3’ 11"). To put this in perspective, some panels are taller than many people.

A picture of solar panels on a single storey building. The emphasis is on how the perspective skews our way of perceiving the real size of the object.
Seen from the ground it is hard to imagine that each of those panels is 190cm (6’ 2.8") by 110cm (3’ 7.3")

How Heavy are the Typical Solar Panels?

You can expect a single panel to weigh around 15-22kg. Although this isn’t a considerable weight, the large size and sleek design make solar panels awkward to handle. On top of that, they are fragile and risky to work with in windy conditions.

A solar panel on a wall, low sun is hitting most of the panel.
Their size and lack of handles makes solar panels difficult to lift. Even at such manageable height as seen here (above the door) you will need help. This panel weighs 22kg (48 lb).

Can I Walk on Solar Panels While Installing Them?

No, do not walk on solar panels. I have seen people do that in videos online, and the panels seem to remain intact. However, most professional installers advise against it. Panels are sturdy, but walking on or hitting them with hard objects may cause cracks in the protective layer. As a result, water may get through and damage the solar cells.

When do Solar Panels Work?

Solar panels require sunlight to produce electricity. The more intensive sunlight they get, the more energy their solar cells can absorb. The position of your solar is critical for how much of the sun’s energy they can harvest.

Conditions Affect Solar Panels Negatively

Cloudy or rainy weather, and other conditions, some of which in our control, can affect solar panels negatively. These are:

  • The angle of sunlight.
  • Shading.
  • High temperature of the panels - above 25°C.

Do Solar Panels Work in Cloudy Weather?

Yes, solar panels generate electricity in cloudy and rainy weather, too. Naturally, in such weather, the efficiency of solar panels is limited, but they can still generate some electricity. Snow and ice are the only weather conditions that can completely prevent your panels from generating electricity. They can build up an impenetrable cover over the solar panels, causing a complete stop to electricity production.

Solar panels with light frosting during winter.
Light frosting still lets some light through.

Counteracting the Effects of Cloudy Weather

You can install additional panels to counteract the reduced efficiency in cloudy weather. For example, if your inverter is 3.6kW, you can have 6kW solar panels. This way, you will lose out on optimal condition days but will have some reliable generation on cloudy days, too. can also help reduce the effects of intermittent clouds.

Heat Affects Solar Panels Negatively

Another condition that influences the current and voltage in solar panels is their temperature. The general rule of thumb is the warmer they get, the worse output you can expect. Both sunlight and temperature effects on solar panels are provided by manufacturers in their solar panels’ data sheets. These diagrams, called I-V curves, depict current on the y-axis and voltage on the x-axis. The coloured projections trace the values based on the different solar irradiance (sunlight intensity) in the left graph and the temperature in the right graph.

Solar panel I-V curves

As you can see, even the lowest depicted solar irradiance, measured in W/m2, results in close to a maximum voltage. However, the current is significantly lower than the maximum, thus pushing down the power potential considerably. On the other hand, temperature effects are primarily noticeable after a certain point. As a result, on hot summer days with-near perfect sunlight conditions, the high temperature will hinter your electricity production.

How to Counteract the Heat Effect?

The home solar energy industry does not promote products for active cooling. The typical approach relies on the natural airflow under the panels to remove heat. Heat management is one of the more significant reasons solar panels are installed on above the roof. At the same time, this is why integrating solar panels in trays inside the roof is proven to be a tradeoff between efficiency and aesthetics.

Placing Solar Panels

The position of solar panels is a primary factor in their efficiency. The more direct their angle with the sunlight and the longer they remain sunlit, the more electricity they will generate. Hence, the best direction for solar panels in the northern hemisphere is south-facing. Conversely, north-facing for the southern hemisphere. The plays a big part, too.
Please note the optimal tilt angle varies based on the latitude.

Solar Panels are Connected in Strings

We usually connect solar panels in strings. A string is a group of connected panels. There are valuable benefits to in strings, such as:

  • increased voltage or current, based on the connection type
  • efficiencies in wiring
  • ease of management
  • optimal power production by the inverter

Place Your Solar Strings Strategically

Optimise the placement of your strings for direction, angle and uniform sunlight conditions. Avoid partial or intermittent shading from tall trees, chimneys or nearby buildings. Also, do not place parts of your string in places with limited sunlight. Such a split will drag down your entire string’s performance when one part is under shade.

How Are Solar Panels Connected to Your House?

Diagram, white on black three solar panels connected in series. The panels are connected to an inverter via DC isolator. The inverter is connected to a Consumer Unit via AC isolator

Solar panels produce DC electricity, but our homes use AC electricity. Hence, we cannot connect solar panels directly to our homes.

To make solar panels work with our home wiring, we use a device called a solar inverter. The solar inverter converts the DC from the solar panels to AC for your home. The to your house via a dedicated circuit on your consumer unit. Additionally, you should install DC isolators between the solar panels and the inverter for and maintainability.

Conclusion

Our pragmatic guide provided a clear understanding of solar panel technology. Key takeaways include the functionality of solar cells and details about the expected efficiency of around 20%. We highlighted the importance of components like connectors and frames and how environmental factors like shade and temperature impact efficiency. The article also emphasised methods to enhance solar panel performance in various weather conditions and the crucial role of inverters in home energy integration. This concise overview is an accessible guide to solar technology, inviting further exploration and offering links to in-depth articles on related topics.

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