Photovoltaic Systems
This technology, similarly to that of solar thermal collectors, exploits the radiation emitted by the sun by converting electromagnetic waves into clean and renewable electricity
This phenomenon is due to the photovoltaic effect, and occurs when a device formed by two joint and overlapping layers, made of silicon injected with phosphorus atoms and silicon injected with boron atoms, is directly exposed to the incidence of light and therefore of photons
The components of a photovoltaic system are the photovoltaic modules connected to each other, the devices that convert the direct current generated by the photovoltaic process into alternating current (inverters) and the distribution network
The efficiency of the system, in addition to the yield of the photovoltaic modules themselves, is also determined by external factors such as:
Temperature
A high value reduces performances
the level of cleanliness of the panel surface
surface soiling reduces the photovoltaic effect
Shading
surface soiling reduces the photovoltaic effect
solar panels, inverters, connectors
solar panels, inverters, connectors
The two large families of photovoltaic systems are:
Stand-alone
i.e. not connected to the local electricity grid; this makes it possible to autonomously exploit the electricity produced by one’s own photovoltaic system, storing any excess of energy
Grid-connected
i.e. connected to the local electricity grid, which either receives all the electricity produced by one’ s own photovoltaic plant or just part of the surplus electricity which is produced but not used