Solar Panels

Solar panels convert sunlight directly into direct current electricity through the Photovoltaic Effect (PV). A photovoltaic panel is made primarily of semiconductor materials such as silicon. When light strikes the panel, photons excite electrons in the semiconductor, generating an electric current.

This depends on a number of factors, including your local solar resource, electricity prices, government subsidy policies, and your attitude towards the environment and sustainability. In the long run, solar panels can significantly reduce electricity bills and contribute to the environment, making them worth buying in many cases.

Modern solar panels typically have efficiencies of between 20 and 23 per cent, which means that about 20 to 23 per cent of incident sunlight can be converted into electricity. However, this number will continue to improve as technology advances.

This depends on your electricity needs, the amount of solar radiation in your location, and the efficiency of the solar panels. Generally speaking, a household may need a few to several dozen solar panels to meet its daily electricity needs.

Solar panels typically have a very long lifespan, which can be upwards of 25 years. However, their performance may deteriorate slightly over time, but they remain very reliable overall.

Solar panels cannot work directly at night or on cloudy days because they need sunlight to generate electricity. However, you can store the electricity generated during the day for use at night or on cloudy days by installing a battery storage system.

This depends on a number of factors, including your electricity consumption, the price of electricity, the cost of the solar panels, and government subsidy policies. In some areas, solar panels may pay for themselves in a few years, while in other areas it may take longer.

Many countries and regions offer a variety of economic incentives to encourage the installation of solar panels, including tax credits, subsidies, loan incentives, and renewable energy certificates. The specifics and availability of these policies may vary by region.