What is photovoltaic solar energy? You've heard the term, but you're not sure what it means. You are vaguely aware that solar energy has something to do with producing energy from sunlight. But what is photovoltaic solar energy? Is it different from other types of solar energy? Photovoltaic solar energy is different from other types. Of the two main categories of solar energy, active and passive, photovoltaic solar energy is active. Let's take a look. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssaySolar PanelActive solar energy is based on solar panels. You might imagine them as flat, rectangular boxes on rooftops. There are two main types of solar panels. From a distance, both look like rectangular boxes. Both convert sunlight into energy, but in two different ways. The terms for the two types of solar panels are solar thermal collector and photovoltaic module. Solar Thermal Collector: This solar panel absorbs solar energy from the sun and uses it to heat air or water. Photovoltaic module: This second type of solar panel collects solar energy and converts it into usable electricity. Meet Photovoltaics To answer the question, what is photovoltaic solar energy, we need to know what photovoltaics is. The short answer is that PV refers to a photovoltaic module. "P" stands for photo and "V" for voltaic. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines "photovoltaic" this way. of, relating to, or using the generation of a voltage when radiant energy falls on the boundary between dissimilar substances. “In simpler terms, “photo” refers to sunlight and “voltaic” refers to electrical energy. Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into electricity. Sunlight flows into the solar panel. Electrical energy comes out of the solar panel. A photovoltaic solar panel consists of many photovoltaic cells (light in volts). These cells are electrically connected and then covered with glass. Glass provides electrical insulation. It is also an excellent protection from bad weather and other harmful agents. When minimal energy is needed, such as that required to power a small household appliance, a single photovoltaic solar panel is sufficient. When more energy is needed, an “array” of solar panels is created by connecting the panels together. If energy is not supplied to the electricity grid, the solar panels are connected to a charge controller and the battery. If it is intended for grid use, the solar panel will be connected to an electric inverter. Photovoltaic solar energy is solar energy in the form of sunlight, which has been collected by a photovoltaic module and converted into usable electricity. Traditional silicon solar panels convert approximately 14-17% of sunlight into usable electricity. It's not much. Towards the end of 2006, however, a new solar cell was introduced. Solar panels using the new cell can convert 22% of the sunlight they collect into electricity. Theoretically, the maximum that a solar panel's cells can convert is said to be around 26-27% of incoming sunlight. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essayHow does it work? Let's see a very simple explanation. Each photovoltaic cell in a photovoltaic solar panel is a semiconductor. When sunlight hits those cells, a certain part of the sunlight is absorbed by those silicon cells. The cells absorb that part of the sun's energy. The cells then transfer the light energy.