Photovoltaic cells are devices that convert light into electricity. Sometimes called a solar cell, photovoltaic cells have been used since 1883. Charles Fritts invented the cell using selenium but this process was soon stopped in 1954 when Darryl Chapin used silicon instead of selenium. The photovoltaic cells use conversion through the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect occurs when a metallic surface is bombarded with electromagnetic radiation. Photons are the sort of electron that any electric current produces. As the light is increased, the metallic surface is converted at a slower rate at first, but more and more solar power is converted into electricity. Every metallic surface that is used has a different threshold at which they can produce only so much energy, while the rest of the solar power is reflected after that threshold is met.
The frequency of the light and its reaction with the metallic surface cause the light to release electrons. Each photon in the light becomes a single electron of energy. The electrons that are emitted are often referred to as photoelectrons. The photoelectrons can be converted into electrical energy which can serve many uses and does not cause pollution or greenhouse gases.
At first photovoltaics cost a lot of money. The price of the energy and the equipment used to produce electricity was higher than the actual savings the user was getting. In the early days this ran at $100 per watt, these days you can usually purchase the electricity generated from the product at about $20 per watt. This kind of energy is produced in remote areas where a power line or a generator is not feasible. By placing at these cells the people that are working or living in this from an area can have a steady supply of electricity.
This type of solar cell has been used many times in public service venues. They have been used to power road crossings, road signs, street lamps, and other Department of Transportation issues that may be a long way from a source of power. It is more economically viable to put a solar cell box on a remote road crossing sign than it is to strain power chords and build power poles to get the electricity to the unit. This allows for more safety precautions being put into remote areas where the drivers or pedestrians can see the hazard.
Since the 1973 oil crisis, photovoltaics have come a long way in both technology and cost. These solar cells are even used in nautical machinery. Buoys with lights that show boats and ships the channel or the water passageway once had to be changed on a regular basis by putting in new batteries. Now these solar cells allow the buoys to remain lit from the energy of the sun. Solar power has made the roadways, sea ways, and other avenues of transportation safer and easier to navigate.
Photovoltaic modules are the prime source of power for many space systems. Solar power is the only source of energy once you leave the Earth's atmosphere. By clicking the rays of the sun on solar cells, these satellites, spacecraft, space station, and other satellite orbiting systems can remain in space longer and work with little maintenance. Without solar cells, future space explorations to other planets or other space ventures would not be possible. The capturing of the sun's rays upon a solar shield in the space station gives the astronauts electricity to run computer systems, life support systems, and everything it takes to support life while they are aboard the station.
The improved technology of solar power has increased domestic uses also. With the new trend of building greenhouses, solar panels are installed to take in the sun's energy and turn it into electricity. These solar panels have enough electricity to heat hot water tanks, run appliances, and give the family enough electricity needed to survive. Of course, supplemental electricity is provided to most of these houses in case there is a problem with the solar battery or if there is a cloudy day which would hinder the production of electricity. Solar panels have not only been used to power domestic homes, but they have also been used to power large high-rises. Entire business complexes have been powered by solar power.
The photovoltaic modules in solar cells are still being studied. They have a variety of uses that are capable of being expanded in industry, technology, space, and even in your own home. As the cells grow better they also become cheaper. Since the world's population pushes for more energy demands and the global market has raised the price of oil and other non-renewable energies to a breaking point, the average man is looking for a way to save some money. Photovoltaic cells will soon be a part of every aspect of our lives that deals with electricity. Whether it is a handheld game or an engine on an aircraft carrier, this technology will be the last remaining bastion of power once all the fossil fuels are gone or we have damaged our planet so much that fossil fuels are no longer a viable way to create energy.
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