solar cell
Sunlight-to-electricity converter
A solar cell is a device that converts sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect.
Solar cells are the basic units of solar panels, wired together to generate usable power: The roof was covered with solar cells.
Also called photovoltaic cell.
Light-to-electricity converting
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
- siliconMetalloid in electronics
- thin-filmUltra-shallow material layer
- monocrystallineHaving unbroken crystal lattice
polycrystalline · quantum dots · electron-hole pairs · photons · light absorption · energy conversion · direct current · voltage
Without utility connections
- inverterChanges DC to AC
- battery storageRetained electrical energy capacity
- net meteringSelling power back home
- utility-scaleLarge enough for power grids
residential · portable charger · spacecraft · satellite · street lighting · rural electrification
Self-replenishing natural power
- clean energyPower from sustainable sources
- green energyEnvironmentally sustainable electricity
- zero emissionsNo pollutants produced
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
environmental impact · eco-friendly · recyclable · life cycle · sustainable development · energy independence · low-impact · decarbonization
Systematic fact-finding effort
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- efficiency gainsImproved resource utilization results
- nanotechnologyAtomic-scale manipulation science
biomimicry · prototype · scalability · cost reduction · manufacturing · mass production · next-generation
photovoltaic
Light-to-electricity converting
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
- siliconMetalloid in electronics
- thin-filmUltra-shallow material layer
monocrystalline · polycrystalline · quantum dots · electron-hole pairs · photons · light absorption · energy conversion · direct current · voltage · wattage
off-grid
Without utility connections
- inverterChanges DC to AC
- battery storageRetained electrical energy capacity
- net meteringSelling power back home
utility-scale · residential · portable charger · spacecraft · satellite · street lighting · rural electrification
renewable energy
Self-replenishing natural power
- clean energyPower from sustainable sources
- green energyEnvironmentally sustainable electricity
- zero emissionsNo pollutants produced
carbon footprint · environmental impact · eco-friendly · recyclable · life cycle · sustainable development · energy independence · low-impact · decarbonization
research
Systematic fact-finding effort
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- efficiency gainsImproved resource utilization results
nanotechnology · biomimicry · prototype · scalability · cost reduction · manufacturing · mass production · next-generation
- semiconductorssilicon, semiconductor, semiconductors, silicon wafers, transistor
- energyelectricity, power, oil, fuel, gas
- clean energywind power, wind, wind turbines, renewables, hydropower
- energy systemspower plant, electricity, power grid, generators, wind power
- inventionsprinting press, steam engine, lightbulb, light bulb, microscope
- light-sensitivephotoreceptor, photoreceptors, photocells, photodiodes, photodiode
solar cellcoal plant
Electricity station burning fossil fuel
gas turbine · nuclear reactor · diesel generator · natural gas plant · internal combustion engine
solar cellbattery
Portable electricity storage
capacitor · supercapacitor · accumulator · rechargeable battery · lithium-ion battery
cell, solar, cellular, sol, solarize, celluloid, solarization, solar cells, solarized