Photovoltaic cells

Converting light into sustainable energy

Photovoltaic cells, integrated into solar panels, allow electricity to be generated by harnessing the sunlight. These panels are installed on roofs, building surfaces, and land, providing energy to both homes and industries and even large installations, such as a large-scale solar power plant. This versatility allows photovoltaic cells to be used both in small-scale systems and large-scale projects, expanding the generation sources and complementing the energy mix in different contexts.

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What is a photovoltaic cell?

The photovoltaic cell (also known as a photoelectric cell) is a device that converts sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon discovered in 1839 by the French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel. Over the years, other scientists, such as Charles Fritts and Albert Einstein, contributed to perfecting the efficiency of these cells, until reaching the current silicon ones, whose use has become increasingly more accessible and efficient.

How does a photovoltaic cell work?

The functioning of photovoltaic cells is based on the photovoltaic effect. When the sunlight hits semiconductor materials such as silicon, the photons (light particles) impact the electrons of these materials, releasing them and generating an electric current. This flow of electrons produces direct current electricity, in other words, a current that flows in a constant manner. The energy generated can be stored in batteries for its subsequent use or be directly integrated into the network.

Although silicon is the most used material, there are photovoltaic cells manufactured with other semiconductors, such as cadmium telluride. These alternative materials are usually applied in more specific solutions, like in light surfaces or of flexible design.

3 types of photovoltaic cells that exist

Today, three types of photovoltaic cells are mainly used. These are integrated into different types of solar panels, designed to adapt to different electricity generation needs.

Monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells
They are made of a single silicon crystal, which allows them to achieve high efficiency in intense light conditions, generating more electricity in less space. They are usually used in installations that need to maximize production in reduced spaces.
Polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells
These cells are made up of various silicon crystals, which slightly reduces their efficiency compared to monocrystallines, but makes their manufacture more economic. They are a very recommended option for residential installations that seek a balance between performance and cost.
Thin-film photovoltaic cells
Manufactured with materials such as cadmium telluride, they are light and flexible. Although their efficiency is less than that of silicon cells, their reduced weight and versatility make them suitable for installations on less conventional surfaces, such as building facades or vehicles.

Applications and uses of photovoltaic cells today

The use of photoelectric cells has evolved with time and currently has multiple applications. The main ones include:

Residences and commercial buildings

Solar panels installed on homes and commercial buildings allow you to harness solar energy to meet part of or all your electricity needs. In some installations, the energy generated can be stored in batteries, which ensures greater availability during hours without sunlight.

Solar farms

These large-scale installations bring together large sets of solar panels to produce electricity and supply the grid, contributing to diversifying the energy mix and covering part of the demand in a complementary manner.

Mobility and transportation

Although this application is in development, photovoltaic cells are used in some vehicles and trains to charge their batteries. This allows these means to complement their power supply with solar energy.

Urban infrastructures

In urban areas, small photovoltaic panels are integrated into streetlights, charging stations for electronic devices, and other elements of street furniture. Thanks to this technology, certain services operate in a more autonomous and efficient manner.

Solar communities

In some towns, solar communities have been developed where several users can share the energy generated by a group of panels. This solution facilitates access to solar energy for those who don't have their own installations, reducing the cost and promoting collective self-consumption.