PV Gap

Phyllis Said:

financial assistance for research in photo voltaic solar energy. where available?

We Answered:

I am not sure how to contact them,but suspect the govt.has a web on grants. They have a grant program and now esp. is the best time to apply for it with almost certainty of having it approved if you can show them it is for research and show some type of qualifications and might help to have someone vouch for you,such as a prof.or master electrician.

Darryl Said:

how do photosystems capture solar energy?

We Answered:

I'm not sure if you're asking about plants or solar panels. Generating electricity with the power of the sun’s rays (“solar power”, “photovoltaic power”, or “PV” for short) is possible due to the photovoltaic effect. “Photo” comes from the Greek for “light”; “voltaic” refers to the production of electricity and is a variant of Italian physicist Alessandro Volta’s name.

To illustrate how PV works, let’s follow the flow of energy through a small grid-tied residential system:

The first step in the process occurs when rays of light from the sun strike the cells within PV modules (modules are commonly called “panels”). As the light energy hits the photovoltaic cells, electrons are excited and begin to flow. Multiple cells are connected in one module, and several modules are connected together to form an array, all harnessing and summing the flow of this electric power.

The current produced in the PV modules is Direct Current (DC). However, most of the lights, appliances, and other electrical equipment in our homes operate on Alternating Current (AC). Next in the chain of energy flow is a device called an inverter, which gathers the DC produced by the array and converts it to AC which can be used in the home. The inverter regulates the AC power it outputs, so it can be safely used by even sensitive electronic devices such as televisions, computers, and audio equipment.

The AC output of the inverter is connected to the home’s main service panel, where it intermingles with the AC power supplied by the local electric utility. Net Metering refers to the physical (and financial) ability of a home’s electric meter to “run in both directions”. We are accustomed to power only flowing from the utility to the loads in our house. However, with the house now acting like a mini utility producing its own electricity, there will likely be times when electricity actually flows out of the house and to the utility.