Photovoltaic systems
Solar energy is converted into electricity using an electronic device called "solar cell" and thanks to a physical phenomenon known as photovoltaic effect. The solar cells are connected and assembled together forming a photovoltaic module or solar panel that absorbs the solar radiation and generates electrical energy.
The core of the solar system are the photovoltaic solar panels or photovoltaic modules and the inverters. Photovoltaic panels generate direct current (DC) electricity and the inverter converts it in alternating current (AC) in order to use it normally or also to feed the electrical grid.
Photovoltaic solar systems can be grid connected (interacting with the local electrical grid) or work as stand-alone systems (autonomous).
Examples of some applications of solar photovoltaic panels are the following:
Agriculture
Water-pumping installations (very important in developing countries): systems of automatic irrigation.
Industry
Cathode protection of gas, oil pipelines and other types of piping; provision of power in general, in particular for limited electric charges (in the order of a few kW) always in areas far from the grid or where power is unreliable (discontinuous electrical supply).
Telecommunications
Radio/television relay stations: telephone devices; stations for data surveying and transmission (meteorological, seismic, for levels of watercourses, indicating the presence of fires), often very useful for civil protection services.
Health
Especially for refrigeration, very useful particularly in developing countries for the conservation of vaccines and blood.
Public Services
Lighting of streets, gardens and public transportation stops; street signalling.
Residential
Power provision (especially lighting) for houses and mountain refuges. Very significant applications of this type in developing countries: photovoltaic systems do not require special maintenance and are easy to install.
Free Time
For charging boat and camper batteries.