Technology

• Charging rechargeable batteries with photovoltaic cells

  Cells charge batteries during the day to supply electricity at night
• Advantages of using photovoltaic cells

  • Sunlight is free
  • Cells do not produce pollutants or greenhouse gases
  • Panels can operate for years without maintenance
  • Cells can charge rechargeable batteries during the day
• High cost to supply and install panels

  Savings by not having to pay for electricity or paraffin exceeds the cost after several years
• Disadvantages of using photovoltaic cells

  • The cells are expensive to manufacture for the amount of energy each one provides
  • The panels need protection from weather such as hail
  • The panels are targeted by thieves
  • The cells supply direct current, requiring conversion to alternating current when feeding into the existing electricity supply grid
  • The cells generate very little electricity in cloudy weather and none at night
  • The cells require large, flat surface areas and sunny weather to generate relatively small amounts of energy