Solar Panels, Cells, Photovoltaic, PV's
All for Solar Energy!
 Solar panels represent 50 to 70 % of the total cost of all solar energy systems.
Not to be confused with the solar collectors used for water heating, these electricity producing panels are composed of solar cells which are also referred to as photovoltaic or PV's in the solar industry.
Let’s go back in time… It all started in 1954 with the first modern solar cell. Then, in the late 1950's, the first solar PV array was utilised in space.
Remember your first solar calculator? Well, these calculators were and still are, using solar panels.
Today, these same panels are used for solar houses and solar buildings, but on a much larger scale.
When we talk about sun feed panels, most people think of the rectangular shaped ones.
Today, solar shingles and thin-film modules are two other types of PV’s that can be used on new or exiting house installations.
 Designed like asphalt shingles, solar shingles are one of the newest type of photovoltaic cells.
These dark blue coloured "panels" (almost black) can easily be integrated onto your roof with regular shingles.
Peel-and-stick, thin-film modules are auto adhesive flexible panels that come in rolls.
They are specially designed for metal roofs. They also come in dark blue.
25 years! Yes, most of these panels have a 20 to 25 year warranty.
This shows us how long solar products can last. Normally, a panel receives from 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day.
So for them, a life span of 60 to 80 years can be expected.
Today, there’s probably 50 years old panels still working out there.
A great investment for you and the environment, wouldn't you say?
Besides panels: inverters, charge controllers and deep cycle batteries, are needed when you are planning grid-tied or off-grid solar energy systems.
There are lots of other things that use photovoltaic cells. Chargers, fountains, lights, boats and even RV's, all use panels to convert the sun's rays into pure and free electricity.
Harvesting solar energy is as good for the environment as planting a tree. If you planning both make sure that your new tree will not outgrow the sunshine that feeds your panels.
Return from Solar Panels to The Power of Solar Energy
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