Solar panels good to know

Solar panels are devices that convert sunlight into electricity.

Each solar panel is equipped with many photovoltaic cells because more cells mean more electricity can be generated.

Solar panels need to be directly exposed to sunlight in order to achieve the best possible efficiency.

The efficiency of solar panels is still in average between 15-18% which is relatively low efficiency meaning that lot of available energy gets wasted in the conversion process.

Solar panels do not have moving parts and aren't difficult to install. They also have minimum requirements in terms of maintenance.

Solar panels usually last for more than 20 years, and throughout their lifetime they lose a negligible level of their efficiency.

Solar panels have a respectable lifespan of 20+ years

Solar panels do not contribute to climate change because they do not emit harmful greenhouse gases like fossil fuels do. Solar panels also do not contribute to air pollution.

Solar panels operate completely silently which is not the case with wind turbines that can sometimes be very loud.

Solar panels need to have adequate overheating protection because they are being constantly exposed to direct sunlight.

Solar panel prices are constantly dropping but solar panels still remain fairly expensive. However, may countries offer various incentives for installing solar panels that drives down the costs.

Solar panels are frequently used on satellites to power satellite’s electrical systems.

The world's largest solar panel manufacturer is China.

Each solar panel is equipped with solar power inverter that converts direct current (DC) from the solar cells to alternating current (AC).

Solar panels can be recycled.

Solar panels do not have to be necessarily mounted on the roof, some people also choose to mount them on a pole or on awnings.

Most commercial solar panels are currently produced from silicon photovoltaic cells.

Some companies even offer option to lease solar panels.

In United States, California leads the way in solar panel installation followed by New Jersey.