Solar Power and Photovoltaic Cell

One major issue with the use of solar cells is the high initial cost although costs have declined greatly as compared to the initial days of the solar cells with the advancement in technology and mass production.  Another obvious drawback is the reliability when depends on natural factors and hence not within the total control of human beings.  Yet this problem can be minimized by using the solar cell setup not independently but integrated with a grid which draws power from other sources as well.  Silicon by itself is not a very good conductor of electricity.  In order to be used in a  solar cell , silicon must be modified, or "doped," with other elements.  Phosphorous and  boron  are the elements of choice for this purpose.  A layer of silicon doped with phosphorous can take advantage of the fact that the latter element only has one  electron  in its outermost electron shell.  This is the electron that can be knocked off by light energy.  Photovoltaic cells are devices that produce electricity directly from sunlight.  Many photovoltaic cells put together form a solar array or  solar panel .  These cells convert light into electricity by harnessing the energy created when photons from sunlight knock electrons into a higher state of energy, within the cell itself.  Photovoltaic cells are composed of layered materials which include two types of  silicon , an anti-reflective coating, and a  glass  cover.