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Photovoltaic (PV) cells are specially designed silica based tiles or sheets composed of a combination of semi-conductors and conducting material.

Traditionally, PV cells are made from high purity crystalline silicon – a rock-like ‘metal’ that is cut into wafers during the manufacturing process. When photons from light of specific wavelengths hit these tiles, electrons are displaced from the semi-conducting to adjacent conducting material, and an outgoing electric current is induced by the cell. Solar cells can be put together into modules with a wide variety of power outputs, shapes and sizes.

The maximum power output of a cell or panel is rated in wattage and used to calculate the overall power capacity of an entire installation. But a cell’s actual power capacity depends on how much of it can be utilised during sunlight hours. The efficiency of solar cells in converting light energy ranges from 17-27% depending on the type of cell.

The inverters receive DC electricity from the solar panels. The voltage and current characteristics depend on the configuration of the panels and the level of solar radiance.

Using components like transistors, inverters rapidly switch DC electricity input to create AC electricity output (MVA). This AC electricity is then filtered and ‘smoothed’ to match the profile of the grid’s AC electricity.

There are three main types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin film. Each captures varying percentages of sunlight. The crystalline cells have almost the same rate of efficiency, followed by thin film.

The current consensus is that the maximum level of sunlight to electricity conversion by a silicon solar cell is around 25%. Mono and polycrystalline solar power became cost-competitive with utility peak power in 2023.