1. Tracking solar panel mounts Tracking solar panel mounts follow the path of the sun during the day to maximize the solar radiation that the solar panels receive. A single axis tracker tracks the sun east to west and a two-axis tracker tracks the daily east to west movement of the sun and the seasonal declination movement of the sun.

2. The need for a huge new supply of electricity over the next 50–100 years is blindingly obvious. The alternatives are either a drastic collapse of living standards in the developed world—and no doubt elsewhere as well—or a radical reduction in the number of humans on this Earth. Probably both. Space solar power: why do we need it and what do we need to get it?

3. It clear that neither conservation nor wind, nuclear, hydro, or biomass energy sources are going to be able, even when taken together, to fill the demand for energy that any reasonable standard of living will require. China and India alone will need more energy than is produced today by the entire planet. Coal, oil, and gas could provide some of the answer but environmental and security reasons tend to rule out those alternatives. source. Cont…

4. Even if one is skeptical of the whole anthropomorphic global warming theory, there are good reasons to want to minimize the use of oil and natural gas and to tread carefully when it comes to using coal as a primary energy. Cont…

5. Solar photovoltaic modules (most commonly referred to as a solar panel) use solar cells to convert light from the sun into electricity. • Solar thermal collectors use the sun's energy to heat water or another fluid such as oil or antifreeze. "Solar panels" describes two types of devices that collect energy from the sun:

6. Cont… Solar panels are made up of arrays of photovoltaic cells arranged to make use of renewable energy from the sun. They and are a clean and environmentally sound means of collecting solar energy. Photovoltaic modules can be used to charge your mobile phone or to power your entire house. Solar energy is a great way to reduce your environmental impact and save money as well.

7. Light striking certain substances causes the surface of the material to emit electrons. Light striking other substances causes the material to accept electrons. It is the combination of these two substances that can be made use of to cause electrons to flow through a conductor. This is process is referred to as the photo-electric or photo-voltaic effect. The Photo-electric Or Photo-voltaic Effect

8. As single PV cells have a working voltage of about 0.5 V, they are usually connected together in series (positive to negative) to provide larger voltages. How Photovoltaic Modules Work

9. Cont… Photovoltaic refers to sunlight being converted into a flow of electrons (electricity). Photovoltaic systems, or solar cells, are like generators that are fuelled by sunlight. They make electricity without waste, noise or pollution. A solar cell is a solid state device in which there are no moving parts (except for photons and electrons) so there are no part that wear out.

10. Cont… The fuel is "photons". Photons can be thought of as "packets of sunlight" that carry a phenomenal amount of energy to earth at a very rapid rate. The panels of today utilize the suns energy via silicon crystals with small amounts of impurity added. This process of adding minute amounts of different elements into an otherwise pure crystal is called "doping".

11. Cont… By having two thin layers of doped silicon bonded against one another, an electric current can be induced when exposed to light. Solar cells are electrically connected (creating an additive voltage) and encapsulated as a photovolaitic (PV) module. A PV module is more commonly referred to as a solar panel.

12. PV modules will most often have a sheet of glass on the front (sun up) side, allowing light to pass while protecting the semiconductor wafers from the elements (rain, hail, etc.). Cont…

13. PV modules are interconnected to create an photovoltaic array to achieve the desired peak DC voltage and current. The power output of a solar array is measured in watts or kilowatts. Sunlight has an energy content of 1 kW (1,000 watts) per square meter. A typical PV module achieves between 10% and 15% conversion. The theoretical maximum efficiency of a silicon cell is about 21%. Using a more costly technology 31% conversion has been achieved.