Solar Photovoltaics (PVs)

Solar photovoltaics (PVs) (photo = light, voltaic = electricity) is a technology that uses the same thing that is used in your computer - silicon - to use free sunlight energy to excite electrons. PV cells are made of silicon called semiconductors. So whenever the sun is shining we can harness this energy by using these solar silicon cells, when light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. The energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely. PV cells also all have one or more electric fields that act to force electrons freed by light absorption to flow in a certain direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the PV cell, we can draw that current off to use externally. For example, the current can power a calculator. This current, together with the cell's voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage) that the solar cell can produce.

Solar PV cells being tested. Solar cell creation components.

A partially completed solar cell panel. Our initial plan is to get one 700 sq.ft. building off the electrical grid by building our own solar panels using low cost solar cells we purchased and creating the panels ourselves. The current project consists of 4 panels producing a 400 watt system. The cost of the entire system is approximately $1,100 with the biggest saving coming from us creating our own panels.

The next phase is to build multiple solar systems in varying sizes to handle the electrical needs for all the buildings on the property.

Another planned use for the solar energy is for our Battery Exchange program. Energy that is not immediately used can be stored into batteries which can be later used. The exchange program will allow people to drop off their batteries to be re-charged using solar energy.