The Technology of Solar PV

The Photovoltaic process was invented by Alexandre Edmond Becquerel in 1839 - so its not new!
The process was first commercialised by NASA in the 1950's - and has been refined ever since.
Solar PV is not new, it probably pre-dates most things of the things we now take for granted.

How does it work?
The panel is made up of 2 layers of slightly impure silicon. A photon, from light, strikes the outer layer and forces an electron to the lower layer. Whilst so ever we have electron flow - we have electricity. With the continous flow of electrons we have a DC current in the wires leaving the solar panel.

DC ?
With the exception of batteries, we rarely use DC current in the home. (Not since the days of Edison and Westinghouse) We use AC electricity, and so a Solar PV system needs an Inverter to convert DC to AC

Mains
The output from the Inverter can then feed the mains, where the electricity can be consumed on site or exported to the grid