Photovoltaic system - Revision history

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	[[File:Solar panel and devices.jpg\|400px\|360px\|thumb\|right\|Figure 1. A photovoltaic system comprised of a solar panel array, inverter and other electrical hardware.<ref>flickr. (May 10, 2018). ''Huston-Bursaw_000032_153515_492994_4578'' [Online]. Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/departmentofenergy/35941357930</ref>]]		[[File:Solar panel and devices.jpg\|400px\|360px\|thumb\|right\|Figure 1. A photovoltaic system comprised of a solar panel array, inverter and other electrical hardware.<ref>flickr. (May 10, 2018). ''Huston-Bursaw_000032_153515_492994_4578'' [Online]. Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/departmentofenergy/35941357930</ref>]]
	<onlyinclude>A '''photovoltaic (PV) system''' is ~~a system~~ composed of one or more [[solar panel]]s combined with an [[inverter]] and other electrical and mechanical hardware that use [[energy]] from the [[Sun]] to [[electricity generation\|generate electricity]].</onlyinclude> PV systems can vary greatly in size from small rooftop or portable systems to massive utility-scale generation plants. Although PV systems can operate by themselves as [[Off-grid solar\|off-grid PV systems]], this article focuses on systems connected to the utility grid, or grid-tied PV systems.		<onlyinclude>A '''photovoltaic (PV) system''' is composed of one or more [[solar panel]]s combined with an [[inverter]] and other electrical and mechanical hardware that use [[energy]] from the [[Sun]] to [[electricity generation\|generate electricity]].</onlyinclude> PV systems can vary greatly in size from small rooftop or portable systems to massive utility-scale generation plants. Although PV systems can operate by themselves as [[Off-grid solar\|off-grid PV systems]], this article focuses on systems connected to the utility grid, or grid-tied PV systems.

	==How do these Systems Work?==		==How do these Systems Work?==

Jmdonev at 16:57, 25 June 2018

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Jmdonev at 16:57, 25 June 2018

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Jmdonev at 16:45, 25 June 2018

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	===Inverters===		===Inverters===
	:: [[Inverter\|''main article'']]		:: [[Inverter\|''main article'']]
	An inverter is an electrical device which accepts electrical current in the form of [[direct current]] (DC) and converts it to [[alternating current]] (AC). For solar energy systems, this means the DC current from the solar array is fed through an inverter which converts it to AC. This conversion is necessary to operate most electric devices or interface with the electrical grid. Inverters are important for almost all solar energy systems and are typically the most expensive component after the solar panels themselves. [[File:~~Mullberg_Speyer2~~.JPG\|400px\|thumb\|right\|Figure 4. A solar inverter (yellow) mounted to the solar racking converts DC electricity from the solar array to useful AC electricity.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (May 17, 2018). ''Müllberg Speyer - 2'' [Online]. Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M%C3%BCllberg_Speyer_-_2.JPG</ref>]]Most inverters have conversion efficiencies of 90% or higher and contain important safety features including [[ground fault circuit interrupter\|ground fault circuit interruption]] and anti-islanding. These shut down the PV system when there is a loss of grid power.<ref name=foster/>		An inverter is an electrical device which accepts electrical current in the form of [[direct current]] (DC) and converts it to [[alternating current]] (AC). For solar energy systems, this means the DC current from the solar array is fed through an inverter which converts it to AC. This conversion is necessary to operate most electric devices or interface with the electrical grid. Inverters are important for almost all solar energy systems and are typically the most expensive component after the solar panels themselves. [[File:Mullberg.JPG\|400px\|thumb\|right\|Figure 4. A solar inverter (yellow) mounted to the solar racking converts DC electricity from the solar array to useful AC electricity.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (May 17, 2018). ''Müllberg Speyer - 2'' [Online]. Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M%C3%BCllberg_Speyer_-_2.JPG</ref>]]Most inverters have conversion efficiencies of 90% or higher and contain important safety features including [[ground fault circuit interrupter\|ground fault circuit interruption]] and anti-islanding. These shut down the PV system when there is a loss of grid power.<ref name=foster/>

	===Racking===		===Racking===

Jmdonev at 16:30, 25 June 2018

2018-06-25T16:30:58Z

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	===Inverters===		===Inverters===
	:: [[Inverter\|''main article'']]		:: [[Inverter\|''main article'']]
	An inverter is an electrical device which accepts electrical current in the form of [[direct current]] (DC) and converts it to [[alternating current]] (AC). For solar energy systems, this means the DC current from the solar array is fed through an inverter which converts it to AC. This conversion is necessary to operate most electric devices or interface with the electrical grid. Inverters are important for almost all solar energy systems and are typically the most expensive component after the solar panels themselves. [[File:~~Müllberg_Speyer_-_2~~.JPG\|400px\|thumb\|right\|Figure 4. A solar inverter (yellow) mounted to the solar racking converts DC electricity from the solar array to useful AC electricity.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (May 17, 2018). ''Müllberg Speyer - 2'' [Online]. Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M%C3%BCllberg_Speyer_-_2.JPG</ref>]]Most inverters have conversion efficiencies of 90% or higher and contain important safety features including [[ground fault circuit interrupter\|ground fault circuit interruption]] and anti-islanding. These shut down the PV system when there is a loss of grid power.<ref name=foster/>		An inverter is an electrical device which accepts electrical current in the form of [[direct current]] (DC) and converts it to [[alternating current]] (AC). For solar energy systems, this means the DC current from the solar array is fed through an inverter which converts it to AC. This conversion is necessary to operate most electric devices or interface with the electrical grid. Inverters are important for almost all solar energy systems and are typically the most expensive component after the solar panels themselves. [[File:Mullberg_Speyer2.JPG\|400px\|thumb\|right\|Figure 4. A solar inverter (yellow) mounted to the solar racking converts DC electricity from the solar array to useful AC electricity.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (May 17, 2018). ''Müllberg Speyer - 2'' [Online]. Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M%C3%BCllberg_Speyer_-_2.JPG</ref>]]Most inverters have conversion efficiencies of 90% or higher and contain important safety features including [[ground fault circuit interrupter\|ground fault circuit interruption]] and anti-islanding. These shut down the PV system when there is a loss of grid power.<ref name=foster/>

	===Racking===		===Racking===

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Jmdonev at 02:29, 22 August 2015

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[[category:power generation]]
[[Category:Done 2015-08-21]]
[[File:640px-Giant_photovoltaic_array.jpg|360px|thumb|right|Figure 1. A photovoltaic array is an example of a large-scale photovoltaic system.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (August 19, 2015). ''Giant Photovoltaic Array'' [Online]. Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Giant_photovoltaic_array.jpg/640px-Giant_photovoltaic_array.jpg</ref>]]

<onlyinclude>A '''photovoltaic system''', sometimes known as a '''solar array''', is a system composed of one or more [[solar panel]]s combined with an [[inverter]] to [[electricity generation|generate electricity]]. These systems use [[energy]] from the [[Sun]] in the form of [[sunlight]] to generate this [[electricity]].</onlyinclude> An array is comprised of solar panels in any number of combinations to meet [[voltage]] and [[current]] demands required from an [[electrical load]].</onlyinclude><ref>U.S. Department of Energy. (2013, August 20). ''Photovoltaic Systems'' [Online] Available: http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_photovoltaics</ref> This versatility allows photovoltaic arrays to be of any size. For example, they may be installed on the roof of a home or may take up as much space as 950 [[acre]]s.<ref>Enbridge. (2010, October 4). ''Enbridge and First Solar Complete the Largest Photovoltaic Facility in the World'' [Online]. Available: http://www.enbridge.com/MediaCentre/News.aspx?yearTab=en2010&id=1329131</ref>

==How do these Systems Work?==
The [[light]] from the Sun, or [[solar energy]], falls onto a solar panel and transfers energy to the material by knocking an [[electron]] loose. When these free electrons are in sufficient number, [[electricity]] is generated from the solar panel in the form of [[direct-current]] or DC electricity. Depending on where the electricity will be used, it must be converted from DC to [[alternating-current]] or AC via an inverter. This process takes place in the individual solar cells that are used to create the solar panel. The process by which these cells generate the electricity is known as the [[photovoltaic effect]].

===How do Solar Cells Work?===
:: [[photovoltaic effect|''main article'']]
A photovoltaic, PV, or [[photovoltaic cell|solar cell]] is a [[semiconductor]] with specific properties encapsulated within a material to protect it from the environment. These properties enable the cell to capture light, or more specifically, the photons from the sun. As light shines on a solar cell, it may either be absorbed, reflected, or pass right through.

The photons that are absorbed by the material are used to generate electricity.<ref>U.S. Department of Energy. (2013, August 13). ''Photovoltaic Cells'' [Online]. Available: http://energy.gov/eere/energybasics/articles/photovoltaic-cells</ref> The amount of energy varies with each [[photon]] depending on its [[wavelength]]. A photon with the right amount energy entering a solar cell will dislodge an electron from the [[atom]]s of the material leaving behind a hole. The accumulation of electrons and holes results in a voltage potential building up within the cell and creating what can be described as a [[Batteries|battery]] with a positive and negative terminal.<ref> U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2012, April 19). ''Photovoltaics and Electricity'' [Online]. Available: http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_photovoltaics</ref> By completing the circuit, a path is created for these electrons to flow. This flow of electrons is known as electricity and is in the form of direct-current.

==Performance==
The generating capability of a solar panel is directly related to its exposure to sunlight. A [[Solar collector orientation|properly installed solar panel]] will be tilted towards the direction of the Sun to maximize its sunlight exposure time. Obstructions such as cloudy weather, trees, or buildings that shade the solar panels will decrease the amount of electricity that is produced. In addition, different geographic regions have access to various levels of sunlight, affecting the availability of the sun and the level of [[insolation]].

==References==
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