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Photovoltaic modules, commonly known as solar panels, are power generation units that combine multiple solar cells through packaging technology. They can directly convert sunlight into electrical energy and are the core components of photovoltaic power generation systems. Understanding the difference of solar cell vs solar panel is the foundation for mastering photovoltaic technology.
This article will discuss solar cell vs solar panel in order to inform you more things about photovoltaic module.
Differences and associations between solar cells and solar panels
What is solar cell
Photovoltaic cells refer to semiconductor material components that can convert sunlight into electrical energy. It is one of the key components of solar photovoltaic power generation systems.
Photovoltaic cells are usually made of semiconductor materials such as silicon and have two electrodes, positive and negative. When sunlight shines on the solar cell, the light energy is absorbed by the photovoltaic cell, causing the photovoltaic effect to occur inside. During this process, the energy of light energy is converted into electrical energy, generating direct current. However, the output capability of a single solar cell is limited, and it must be combined into a solar panel to meet actual needs. You can learn more about solar cells from the article named how do photovoltaic cells work.
This reflects the difference in functional hierarchy of solar cell vs solar panel.
What is solar panel
Photovoltaic cells are connected in series or parallel to form a photovoltaic cell group, in order to increase the output voltage and current. Photovoltaic cell groups are installed on solar photovoltaic power generation equipment, such as solar panels, to form photovoltaic modules. A solar panel is composed of multiple solar cells, providing greater power output.
Are solar cells and solar panels the same
The definition of solar cell vs solar panel tells that they are not the same and solar cells are individual units, while solar panels are combinations of multiple units. In other words, a solar panel is composed of multiple battery cells, with a large area and high power output. The battery cell is a component of the solar panel, which is the basic unit for converting solar energy into electrical energy.
Why are solar cells not commonly used
When discussing the application scenarios of solar cell vs solar panel, it is important to understand that solar cell is a type of optoelectronic semiconductor wafer that directly generates electricity from sunlight.
The basis of the working principle of solar cells is the photovoltaic effect of semiconductor PN junctions. The so-called photovoltaic effect is an effect in which the distribution of charges inside an object changes when it is illuminated, resulting in the generation of electromotive force and current. When sunlight or other light shines on the PN junction of a semiconductor, a voltage appears on both sides of the PN junction, called the photogenerated voltage.
By introducing positive and negative electrodes on both sides of the P-N junction of the solar cell and connecting them to a load (such as a small light bulb), a photocurrent can be generated in the external circuit to obtain power output (such as lighting the small light bulb). In this way, the solar cell directly converts solar energy into electrical energy.
The working voltage of solar cells is about 0.5V and they cannot be used alone. After packaging solar cells in series and parallel, they become photovoltaic modules. The power of a single solar cell is very small and cannot meet household or commercial needs. Therefore, solar cells are mainly used inside photovoltaic modules to generate large amounts of electricity through series and parallel connections.
How many solar cells are in a solar panel
After understanding the relationship of solar cells vs solar panels, one of the first questions people ask when choosing to install solar photovoltaics is: "Where do I want to build my system?" Solar panels take up a considerable amount of space, and not every place has enough space to accommodate them.
Solar cells are the smallest unit of photoelectric conversion, with commonly used dimensions of 156 millimeters x 156 millimeters. The working voltage of solar cells is about 0.5V and they generally cannot be used alone. After packaging solar cells in series and parallel, they become photovoltaic modules.
A single solar cell is a square measuring 156mm x 156mm. 60 battery cell panels are arranged in a grid of 6 × 10. 72 solar panels are arranged in a grid of 6 × 12, with a height of approximately 3-4 centimeters. At present, the mainstream battery cell sizes on the market include 166mm, 182mm, 210mm and other specifications.
60 photovoltaic modules: 1.635 square meters (1.65 meters x 0.991 meters)
72 photovoltaic modules: 1.938 square meters (1.956 meters x 0.991 meters)
These are the standard solar panel sizes installed in most residential and commercial projects, leaving tens of millimeters of space on each side of the module. Due to the use of different frame sizes by manufacturers, there may be some variations. This is common for photovoltaic modules.
That would have 60 or 72 batteries to provide sufficient power output. Different specifications of solar panels (such as household and commercial) have varying numbers of batteries.
What are the disadvantages of solar cells
The contradiction between efficiency and cost
The conversion efficiency of a single solar cell is limited, and when used alone, it cannot provide sufficient power. From the perspective of a single solar cell in photovoltaic modules, high-efficiency types such as monocrystalline silicon have high manufacturing costs, while low-cost types such as thin-film solar cells have low efficiency.
Differences in lifespan and stability
The lifespan and stability of different types of solar cells vary. Crystalline silicon solar cells have a long lifespan but high manufacturing pollution, while thin-film solar cells have a short lifespan but are environmentally friendly in production.
Insufficient environmental adaptability
Dust, shadows, angles, etc. can all affect the power generation capacity of solar cells. Moreover, silicon-based solar cells such as monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar cells are temperature sensitive, which affects their practical application scenarios.
Conclusion
This article systematically analyzes the differences and connections of solar cell vs solar panel by comparing them. Then the article explains the limitations of solar cells, while solar panels overcome the problem of insufficient power of individual cells by integrating battery cells, but require a balance between space occupation and power generation demand. Ultimately, the selection needs to be based on scenario requirements, taking into account efficiency, cost, and sustainability.
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