What are PV solar panels

Photovoltaic (PV) panels are a type of solar panel made up of semiconductor solar cells. There are two main types of solar panel, those that produce electricity (photovoltaic) and those that produce hot water (thermal solar panels).

This site is all about those solar panels that produce electricity. Here you can find out everything you need to know in order to make the best decisions about which type of PV panel to use, how to install them and where to mount your panels.

Photovoltaic cells are electric devices that convert the energy from sunlight (and other light) directly into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic cells are thin slices of crystalline silicone called wafers. A number of these wafers are combined to create a solar module and a number of modules mounted on a board or frame are referred to as a solar panel. Normally solar panels have a sheet of glass covering the modules to prevent damage from debris, rain and hail.

There are as one would expect, different types of photovoltaic panels with different properties and costs. The different types available are Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, Amorphous, Thin Film and hybrid or HIT.

Factors to take into account when comparing photovoltaic panels are voltage, power output (watts), efficiency (watts per m²), lifespan, cost and weight.

Photovoltaic solar panels are used for a variety of applications such as power stations, in buildings, on satellites, on ships and boats, in remote areas and some stand alone devices like calculators, water pumps, parking meters, emergency telephones, traffic signs and even battery/cellphone chargers.