PV Gap

Agnes Said:

What is photovoltaics? How it is related to solar energy?

We Answered:

Photovoltaics is best known as a method for generating solar power by using solar cells packaged in photovoltaic modules, often electrically connected in multiples as solar photovoltaic arrays to convert energy from the sun into electricity. To explain the photovoltaic solar panel more simply, photons from sunlight knock electrons into a higher state of energy, creating electricity.

Photovoltaics can refer to the field of study relating to this technology, and the term photovoltaic denotes the unbiased operating mode of a photodiode in which current through the device is entirely due to the transduced light energy. Virtually all photovoltaic devices are some type of photodiode

Manuel Said:

How much solar energy is produced every hour?

We Answered:

that depends on the panels being used, distance from the equator, cloud cover and time of year.

Charlie Said:

Careers in Solar energy and Photovoltaics?

We Answered:

You can do research on making and fitting solar cells. This would require engineering, chemistry or physics... at school you'd have to stay on top of maths & sciences.

You could work for a company that fits solar cells, in which case you could get on an apprenticeship or similar. A bit of maths and practical subjects like electronics (if you can) wouldn't go amiss.

Alternatively, you could try getting work for a power company that deals with solar power. They will need people with skills in marketing and business. For other things they would need people with problem solving skills, the sort of things you pick up from maths, physics etc. I'm not sure how competitive these are...




I did a physics degree and I'm now writing up my Masters thesis in solar cell research. The other people in my research group either had degrees in physics, although one guy did electronics engineering.

I could have got a job with a power company, solar cell company or a PhD in solar cell research from here. Whatever path to solar you take, it's safest to make sure you stay on top of maths and science at school IMO.

Marshall Said:

Why have we become dependent on fossil fuels when all along we could have been using solar energy?

We Answered:

They're cheap and easy -- and the latter is more important than you may think. All you need to get widely-usable energy out of fossil fuels is a reliable way to create fire: they burn easily. Not so with sunlight. Manufacturing photovoltaic cells requires technology that we most certainly didn't have back when we first adopted coal and oil.

Maurice Said:

Is there any current innovation or development about photovoltaics?

We Answered:

Much of the current development is in reducing costs per square foot of photovoltaic cells and thin film technology is seen as the most promising since it can be manufactured in continuous sheets.

The other area of research is increasing the efficiency, making more of the captured sunlight turn into electricity. Both are ways to reduce cost, but this film appears to be cheaper at this point.