Previous Year Question

The correct answer is Solar Cells.

A Photovoltaic Cell is commonly called a Solar Cell. Its function is to convert the energy of sunlight directly into Electrical Energy.

This conversion is based on the Photovoltaic Effect. A solar cell is generally made from semiconductor material. When photons with sufficient energy fall on the semiconductor, they transfer energy to electrons and create electron-hole pairs.

The internal electric field of the cell drives electrons and holes in different directions. When an external circuit is connected, this charge separation produces direct current (DC).

Therefore, in a solar PV system, many solar cells are connected to form a module, and modules are combined into an array to obtain the required electrical power.

It is useful to distinguish this from Solar Thermal technology. A solar thermal system first converts sunlight into heat, whereas a photovoltaic cell converts sunlight directly into electricity.