Photovoltaic (PV) Module

Photovoltaic (PV) Module

Photovoltaic module means a device used to convert light to electricity that includes an array of individual solar cells containing photosensitive material (such as silicon), wiring or circuitry that transports energy from the cells out of the module, and layers that protect the solar cells and wiring or circuitry from. You're likely most familiar with PV, which is utilized in solar panels. When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV cells in the panel. This energy creates electrical charges that move in response to an internal electrical field in the cell, causing electricity to flow.

Solar cells are made of specially treated silicon material and designed to absorb as much sunlight as possible. Solar PV cells are interconnected electrically in series and parallel connections within a panel (module) to produce the desired output voltage and/or current values for that panel.

Materials used in photovoltaic devices are usually silicon (monocrystalline, polycrystalline or amorphous), gallium arsenide, metal chalcogenides and organometallics.