Are solar cells a 'work in progress'?

Technologically, as we've already seen, solar cells are a permanent "work in progress" and much of the world's solar investment is still based on first-generation technology. Who knows, perhaps it will take several more decades before recent scientific advances make the business case for solar really compelling?

What is battery off-gas detection?

Off-gas detection keeps BESS's running more safely, helping operators stay on top of potential risks and operational concerns. It gives early detection designed to identify and alert when a battery off-gases so users can take appropriate preventative safety steps to reduce or even avoid the effects of thermal runaway.

How do solar panels generate electricity?

Just like the cells in a battery, the cells in a solar panel are designed to generate electricity; but where a battery's cells make electricity from chemicals, a solar panel's cells generate power by capturing sunlight instead.

How do solar cells work?

Silicon is the stuff from which the transistors (tiny switches) in microchips are made—and solar cells work in a similar way. Silicon is a type of material called a semiconductor. Some materials, notably metals, allow electricity to flow through them very easily; they are called conductors.

How much energy does a solar cell produce?

That means a solar cell can't produce any more electrical energy than it receives each second as light. In practice, as we'll see shortly, most cells convert about 10–20 percent of the energy they receive into electricity.

Can a solar cell produce more energy?

A basic rule of physics called the law of conservation of energy says that we can't magically create energy or make it vanish into thin air; all we can do is convert it from one form to another. That means a solar cell can't produce any more electrical energy than it receives each second as light.