Fotovoltisk

Fotovoltisk, often shortened to PV, refers to the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials. The fundamental principle behind this process is the photovoltaic effect, a physical and chemical phenomenon that occurs when light strikes a material and causes electrons to be released. This release of electrons creates an electrical current.

Solar panels, the most common application of fotovoltisk technology, are comprised of many individual photovoltaic cells. These cells are typically made from silicon, a semiconductor material. When sunlight, composed of photons, hits the silicon cells, the photons transfer their energy to electrons within the silicon atoms. If the photon has enough energy, it can knock an electron loose from its atom, creating a free electron and a "hole" (the absence of an electron).

An internal electric field within the photovoltaic cell directs these free electrons to flow in one direction, generating a direct current (DC). This DC electricity can then be used directly to power DC appliances or converted into alternating current (AC) electricity using an inverter for use in homes and businesses connected to the grid. The efficiency of a fotovoltisk cell is measured by how much of the incident solar energy it can convert into electrical energy. Factors such as light intensity, temperature, and the material composition of the cell influence this efficiency.