Unlike in the past, today such a panel can come in a variety of sizes and designs. In many cases, such as with many styles of solar shingles, you would not even recognize them as a solar device.
2. When people think of solar panels, the vision that usually pops
into their mind is the large roof style solar panels that typically
stretch across the entire expanse of a home roof. And while
these types of solar panels are still very much in use today,
although improved greatly, many panels have been greatly
downsized. As a result, you can find solar panels in many
common products being produced. For example, solar
powered fans, lights, water pumps, generators, and bird baths
are just a few of the many products being built today that
possess some version of a solar panel.
Unlike in the past, today such a panel can come in a variety of
sizes and designs. In many cases, such as with many styles of
solar shingles, you would not even recognize them as a solar
device.
3. Basically, a this type of panel is designed to do just two things.
Capture the energy from the sun and transform it into some
form of usable energy - usually electricity. Although, there are
various ways of performing each of these functions, most
devices being created today follow a relatively standard
methodology which has remained pretty consistent over the
years. And this methodology is to take solar cells, which are
the essential building blocks of solar technology, and configure
them into various ways to produce a solar panel.
4. Depending on how the cells are configured, manufacturers can
produce panels that output various voltages - 12 volt, 17 volt,
24 volt, and so on. This flexibility allows solar panels or
batteries to be produced in all sizes - from small enough to
power a small calculator to large enough to power a car, van,
or other mechanical device.
5. Advances in solar technology design have also allowed solar
cells to be placed in a wider variety of shapes and materials. In
fact, many of the newer uses of solar cells involve placing
them on very thin film solar panels. The film allows the panels
to be twisted and bent, without harming the panel itself. With
flexible panels such as these, you now see these devices
being used in clothing, blankets, backpacks, and many other
products that would have been unthinkable even ten years
ago.
6. When if comes to creating energy, these devices have almost
infinite use. By combining a series of these devices, you can
create solar arrays that are big enough to provide enough
electricity to power an entire home.
But, even though solar technology has advanced by leaps and
bounds over the past decade, it is still not yet developed
enough to provide the amount of energy needed to run the
typical home in areas of the country that have limited daylight.
However, in many other areas of the country, the technology has
advanced so far that running a home, year round, on solar
energy alone, is entirely feasible.