Photovoltaic Energy Systems; Current Technology, Profitability and Future Prospects

Photovoltaic Energy Systems; Current Technology, Profitability and Future Prospects
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Photovoltaic Energy Systems; Current Technology, Profitability and Future Prospects
A photovoltaic system is designed to capture power from the sun and convert it into electricity. Many people call it the solar panel. In particular, solar panels are not new and individuals have been using them for an extended period. Sunlight is a renewable energy source and the only way to tap it is by using a photovoltaic system. For example, in a bid to eliminate global warming and other adverse environmental effects, the government has encouraged citizens to use solar panels to light their homes to reduce overdependence on fossil fuels. Indeed, this current technology is mature and can be relied upon to meet the domestic needs of many households. A photovoltaic system is safe, cheap to maintain, and provides clean energy without emitting any greenhouse gases. On that note, installing it significantly contributes to having a sustainable home and better environment. Sunlight is always there almost every day and provides an energy source that can be replenished. The paper aims to focus on the photovoltaic energy system and how this current technology is profitable without forgetting to discuss its future prospects.
The photovoltaic energy system is a renewable energy technology that has attracted more attention recently. Photovoltaics also called solar panels offer reliable clean power and are the solution for addressing environmental issues associated with fossil fuels. The system uses photovoltaic cells to gather solar energy from the sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) (Energy.gov, n.d.). The DC electricity is taken to an inverter that converts it into alternating current (AC). The diagram below shows the primary components of a photovoltaic energy system and how it can be installed at home (Kunz, 2021).
Figure 1: Crucial Components of a Photovoltaic Energy System.


Source: /solar-energy/photovoltaics/photovoltaic-system
A solar photovoltaic array comprises numerous photovoltaic cells that collect solar energy and generate DC electricity. Besides, solar panels are of different sizes, and their installation is done depending on the available size and the electricity needs of an individual. Photovoltaic systems are installed using stable mounting structures and can withstand weather conditions, such as rain and wind.
Figure 1 shows the second crucial component of a photovoltaic energy system is a charge controller. A charge controller is vital, and it regulates the DC electricity collected from sunlight to ensure that batteries do not overcharge. Indeed, its primary purpose is to measure whether batteries are charged fully so that they can stop the flow of current to prevent permanent damage. Charge controllers can be Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) or Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). A PWM is suitable for small photovoltaic systems with amperes ranging from 4 to 60. In contrast, an MPPT is suitable for large photovoltaic systems with a high voltage of upto 160 volts (Satpathy & Pamuru, 2021). Some photovoltaic systems have in-made battery banks, and others do not. The most significant thing to note is that a charge controller is only needed when there is a battery. The third crucial component of a photovoltaic energy system is the battery bank. Specifically, a battery bank stores the energy collected by photovoltaic cells and which is not used immediately. The energy stored can be used later, for example, at night when there is no sunlight. In most cases, homeowners use battery banks to store enough energy to use when the sunlight is limited.
Furthermore, as can be seen in Figure 1, the fourth component of a photovoltaic energy system is the inverter. An inverter is an essential part that converts the DC electricity into AC. Besides, numerous electronic gadgets use AC power, which is why an inverter is a crucial component. In addition, a utility meter is essential to measure power consumption. A photovoltaic energy system has a utility meter that shows the electricity generated from the solar panels, the energy stored, and the one stored on battery banks (Awad et al., 2022). Currently, many homes or businesses in the United States of America (USA) are not off the electric grid. The electricity grid is the last component. If the energy generated from the photovoltaic energy system is more than what an individual needs, one can share the unused energy with others using the electric grid. Nevertheless, that only happens when the battery banks are fully charged and extra energy is not directly used. In some cases, an individual can also use the power from the electric grid when it is insufficient due to weather conditions, such as during winters.
Currently, a photovoltaic energy system has become a vital renewable energy source. The best thing about it is that individuals and businesses can implement based on their needs. For example, a household can use one solar panel and a medium-sized firm about five of them. However, the number of solar panels does not matter, but the most significant thing is the electricity generated by photovoltaic cells. Specifically, implementing and maintaining a photovoltaic energy system is affordable. The system does not make noise, requires little or no maintenance, and generates electricity to meet individuals’ or businesses’ needs (Jiang, Huang, Hsiao, & Chen, 2005). The technology used in the photovoltaic energy system is easy to understand. As indicated in Figure 1, every component used in the system plays significant role, which is not difficult to understand once a person starts using the solar panel. The technology of the photovoltaic energy system is mature and more improvements can be done to maximize the power output and minimize the usage. As a result, it is a good choice of renewable energy source for individuals and businesses that want to use clean energy for the betterment of the environment.
Sunlight comprises energy particles called photons. In particular, these photons carry a distinctive amount of solar energy depending on the solar spectrum wavelengths. Although numerous solar panels generate electricity when there is sunlight, new technologies are emerging of photovoltaic cells that can generate electricity from artificial light. A semiconductor material is used to make a photovoltaic cell. When photons from the sunlight strike a solar panel, they either bounce back, become absorbed, or pass through the cell (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2022). Notably, only the photons that are absorbed by the semiconductor material generate electricity. Enough solar energy makes the semiconductor material dislodge electrons. Manufacturers of solar panels use special materials to ensure that semiconductor materials are receptive to sunlight so that electrons can migrate to the photovoltaic cell surface (Pushpakaran, Subburaj, Bayne, & Mookken, 2016). That way, more solar energy is captured and converted into electricity. That is why the size of a solar panel does not necessarily mean that it can generate more electricity, but rather the technology used to make the semiconductor material that absorbs photons.
Figure 2: What Happens Inside a Photovoltaic Cell.


Source: /energyexplained/solar/photovoltaics-and-electricity.php
Figure 2 above depicts how electricity is generated by photovoltaic cells. As discussed previously, electrons are dislodged from the semiconductor material after photons are absorbed. In that light, there is a threshold of the photons required to facilitate the electrons being dislodged on the surface. These electrons start to move at the photovoltaic cell surface, creating an imbalance of the electrical charge between the back and front surfaces of the cell. Besides, electrons are negatively charged. The electrical imbalance creates a potential voltage, such as th...