There are two main types of solar panels: Photvoltaic (PV) panels which produce electricity, and Active solar panels which heat or pre-heat water. To many people's surprise, both types work well in the UK. Winsund supply PV solar panels rather than active solar. Winsund are the UK importer for Kyocera solar panels, and carry stocks of the most popular panels.

Even on relatively overcast days, PV panels will produce electricity - even in the UK!! Properly installed, facing between south-east and south-west, and tilted towards the sun at the angle appropriate to the time of year, they make a significant contribution to a renewable energy system.

A solar cell is a kind of semiconductor device that takes advantage of the photo-voltaic effect, in which electricity is produced when the semiconductor's PN junction is irradiated. When light strikes a solar cell, part of it is reflected, part of it is absorbed, and part of it passes through the cell. The absorbed light excites the bound electrons into a higher energy state, making them free electrons. These free electrons move about in all directions within the crystal, leaving holes where the electrons used to be, and the holes also shift around the crystal. The electrons (-) collect in the N-layer, the holes (+) in the P-layer. When the outside circuit is closed, electricity flows.