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Writer's pictureSamantha Adams

Solar, Simplified

Updated: Nov 2, 2023

For our first blog post, we thought we'd take the opportunity to explain just how solar panels work, how they contribute to the nation's power supply and what the status of renewable energy currently is in the UK. Most importantly, how you can be a part of it with Elementary Solar!


Starting from the very beginning, photovoltaic (PV) technology was first created in 1954 by Chapin, Fuller and Pearson, wherein they developed a solar cell capable of absorption of solar energy AND conversion into power. It is these cells which make up the solar panels we know and use today.


However, the photovoltaic effect was first discovered in 1839! Experimenting with metal electrodes in a conducting solution, 19 year old physicist Edmond Becquerel observed that more electricity was produced when the cell was exposed to sunlight.

Arguably, humans have been using solar energy for much much longer than this, with evidence of shiny objects being used to reflect the suns energy to make fire as early as the 7th century BC. Although a far cry from the relative sophistication of the solar power we recognise today, it all had to start somewhere!


Today, Solar Power is renewable and infinite. It is also a clean power source, with the carbon footprint of equipment manufacture relatively small and far outweighed by the longevity of the panels, which are becoming increasingly easier to recycle.


Close up image of a solar panel with black silicon cells beneath a blue sky

Solar panels are made up of silicon (which acts as a semiconductor) sandwiched between glass panels within a metal frame. When exposed to photons (basic unit of light), the silicon produces electrons, forming an electric charge. This charge creates a DC current which is then harnessed and conducted through the wiring within the panels and fed into the inverter, which converts it to AC. It can then be used to power electrical appliances within your home.


In the UK, Solar is one of four main renewable energy sources currently being used to offset and eventually replace the use of fossil fuels. The UK has steadily been moving towards an entire electricity system powered wholly by renewable and carbon-free sources, and the speed of this progression has rapidly increased in recent years.


In 1991, only 2% of electricity generated could be attributed to renewables - this figure jumped to 14.6% by 2013. By 2019 we saw renewable power generation rise to it's highest share to date: on August 17th, the four main renewable sources were responsible for 85.1% of the UK's power generation, with solar accounting for 25% of that figure.


Renewable energy is moving in the right direction faster than ever before, and we find it fascinating. If you're interested to learn more about how you can benefit from solar power, try our Elementary Solar system calculator or drop us a line today.


Thanks for reading!


Team Elementary


www.elementarysolar.co.uk


Sources: national grid.com



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