2. A photovoltaic panel is a device
that converts solar energy into
electricity. Each panel is
composed of many photovoltaic
modules electrically connected.
And this module is an assembly
of solar cells.
3. The majority of modules use wafer-
based crystalline silicon cells or
thin-film cells based on cadmium
telluride or silicon: the first ones
are more efficient, but they are not
used so much, because of their cost
which is very high, so thin-film cells
are most employed even if they are
less efficient.
Most solar modules are rigid, but
there are semi-flexible ones too.
A single solar module can produce
only a limited amount of power; in
effect most installations contain
multiple modules.
Crystalline silicon photovoltaic module
Thin-film photovoltaic module
4. ELEMENTS THAT COMPOSE A
PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM
ELECTRICITY
PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE
INVERTER
EVERYDAY EQUIPMENT
INTERCONNECTION
WIRING
5. PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE: it is the essential
part of a system; it captures solar energy during
the day and converts it into electric current.
6. INVERTER: it transforms the electric current
into electricity that can be used for everyday
equipment.
7. NUMBERS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS IN
ITALY'S REGIONS
Abruzzo
Basilicata
Calabria
Campania
Emilia Romagna
Friuli Venezia Giulia
Lazio
Liguria
Lombardia
Marche
Molise
Piemonte
Puglia
Sardegna
Sicilia
Toscana
Trentino Alto Adige
Umbria
Valle d'Aosta
Veneto
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
8. Photovoltaic panels or solar thermal
energy?
Both of the installations use the
sun and its radiations as source
of energy, but the photovoltaic
system transforms directly the
solar energy in electricity,
instead the solar thermal energy
technology employs the light
energy to create thermal energy
(heat) and it is used above all for
the heat of the houses.
Solar thermal energy installation
9. ● A Photovoltaic system could also have a solar
tracker, which is a device that allows the movement
of the panel towards the sun.
● Solar panels are often mounted on rooftops.
Commercial or industrial installations are often
mounted on the ground.
● Some recent solar module designs include
concentrators in which light is focused by lenses or
mirrors.
