23-01-2016, 04:59 PM
A solar array composed of a solar panel with 24 solar modules in rural Mongolia.A solar photovoltaic module is composed of individual PV cells. This crystalline-silicon module comprises 4 solar cells and has an aluminum frame and glass on the front.
Solar modules on the International Space Station
A half-built homemade solar module, made from individual cells soldered together
A solar panel is a set of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules electrically connected and mounted on a supporting structure. A PV module is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells. Solar panels can be used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity in commercial and residential applications. Each module is rated by its DC output power under standard test conditions (STC), and typically ranges from 100 to 320 watts. The efficiency of a module determines the area of a module given the same rated output - an 8% efficient 230 watt module will have twice the area of a 16% efficient 230 watt module. There are a few solar panels available that are exceeding 19% efficiency. A single solar module can produce only a limited amount of power; most installations contain multiple modules. A photovoltaic system typically includes a panel or an array of solar modules, an inverter, and sometimes a battery and/or solar tracker and interconnection wiring.
Contents
• 1 Theory and construction
• 2 Efficiencies
• 3 Crystalline silicon modules
• 4 Thin-film modules
o 4.1 Rigid thin-film modules
o 4.2 Flexible thin-film modules
• 5 Smart solar modules
• 6 Module performance and aging
• 7 Recycling
• 8 Production
o 8.1 Top ten producers
• 9 Price
• 10 Mounting systems
o 10.1 Trackers
o 10.2 Fixed racks
o 10.3 Ground mounted
o 10.4 Roof mounting
• 11 Standards
• 12 Devices with photovoltaic modules
• 13 See also
• 14 References