"More energy from the sun falls on the earth in
one hour than is used by everyone in
the world in one year."
-
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Photovoltaics (PV) is the process of converting sunlight to
electricity. This can be done directly with PV panels that are
positioned on rooftops or on the ground facing the sun. PV panels are
made up of modules which consist of many individual cells. PV cells are
made from silicon and are semiconductors. Monocrystalline cells are made
from a single continuous crystal structure and are the most efficient.
As more research is being done on renewable energy technologies, PV
cells are becoming more efficient and less expensive, which in turn is
igniting a solar energy market boom in the US.