Jamy Gourmaud nous explique le photovoltaïque, aujourd'hui et demain.

ZIVAOUATE Productions

15 Feb 201314:47

Summary

TLDRThis script explores the photovoltaic effect, discovered by Antoine Becquerel in 1839, which converts sunlight into electricity. It explains how solar panels, made primarily from silicon, function as semiconductors to generate electricity. The video discusses the installation process, the impact of weather on efficiency, and the economic and environmental benefits of solar power. It also touches on future advancements, including improved panel efficiency and innovative installation methods, emphasizing solar power's role in a sustainable energy mix.

Takeaways

☀️ The average time it takes for sunlight to reach Earth is 8 minutes and 20 seconds, providing us with life, heat, and the basis for solar energy.
🔬 The photovoltaic effect, which converts light into electricity, was discovered in 1839 by French physicist Antoine Becquerel.
🌐 Silicon, a material abundant on Earth, is the primary material used in solar panels due to its semiconductor properties.
🔋 Solar panels are made up of multiple layers, with phosphorus added to the top layer to create a negative charge and boron to the bottom layer to create a positive charge, mimicking a battery.
🏡 Solar panels can be installed on various types of buildings, from residential rooftops to agricultural and commercial structures.
💡 The installation process requires expertise in both electrical work and roofing to ensure the integrity of the building's insulation and waterproofing.
🌬️ Despite cloudy weather in some regions, like Germany, solar panels continue to produce electricity, demonstrating their resilience to varying weather conditions.
🔌 Once installed, solar panels connect to the electrical grid, allowing the homeowner to produce and sell electricity, contributing to a sustainable income.
🔄 The future of solar energy includes advancements in battery storage, allowing for the use of solar electricity even when the sun isn't shining.
📈 Research and development are focused on improving the efficiency of solar panels, with current technology converting about 15% of sunlight into electricity.
🌿 Solar photovoltaic energy is a sustainable and ecological solution that can be integrated into a diverse energy mix, including wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass, and natural gas.

Q & A

How long does it take for sunlight to reach Earth?
-It takes sunlight an average of 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach Earth.
Who discovered the photovoltaic effect?
-The photovoltaic effect was discovered by French physicist Antoine Becquerel in 1839.
What material is commonly used in photovoltaic cells?
-Silicon, which is abundant on Earth and extracted from quartz, is commonly used in photovoltaic cells.
Why is silicon used in photovoltaic cells?
-Silicon is used because it is a semiconductor, which is essential for the production of electricity in photovoltaic cells.
What is doping in the context of photovoltaic cells?
-Doping is a process in which silicon is treated to create a surplus of electrons on one side and a deficit on the other, creating an electric potential.
How do photovoltaic panels produce electricity?
-When exposed to sunlight, the electrons in the silicon move and create a current by flowing from the negatively charged side (with a surplus of electrons) to the positively charged side (with a deficit of electrons).
What is the impact of cloudy weather on photovoltaic panels?
-Cloudy weather can reduce the efficiency of photovoltaic cells, but they continue to produce electricity, as demonstrated by Germany's extensive use of photovoltaic energy despite its often cloudy climate.
What is the process of installing photovoltaic panels?
-The installation process involves a solar assessment by a specialist, followed by the physical installation by electricians and roofers with dual skills, ensuring the integrity of the roof's insulation and waterproofing.
How is the electricity produced by photovoltaic panels connected to the grid?
-The electricity is converted from direct current to alternating current by an inverter and then connected to a meter that records the electricity produced before it is fed into the grid.
What are the potential future developments in photovoltaic technology mentioned in the script?
-Future developments include the use of new battery technologies for energy storage, improvements in panel efficiency, and innovative installation methods such as flexible and lightweight modules for different types of roofs.
What is the potential of photovoltaic energy in France?
-Covering 10% of rooftops with photovoltaic panels could produce 20% of the electricity consumed in France.

Outlines

00:00

🌞 Understanding Photovoltaic Panels

This paragraph introduces the concept of photovoltaic panels, explaining that sunlight takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach Earth, providing life and warmth. The photovoltaic effect, discovered by French physicist Antoine Becquerel in 1839, is the foundation of these panels. They are made primarily from silicon, a semi-conductor material abundant on Earth. The process of doping silicon creates an electric field, allowing electrons to move and generate current when exposed to light. The paragraph also touches on the future of solar energy, suggesting that photovoltaic panels are becoming more widespread and are a sustainable source of electricity.

05:01

🛠️ Installing Photovoltaic Panels

The second paragraph delves into the installation process of photovoltaic panels, which requires expertise in both electrical work and roofing to ensure the integrity of the roof is maintained. The installation starts with a solar assessment to determine the optimal size and positioning of the panels. The supports for the panels are made from thermoplastics used in aeronautics, designed to withstand various weather conditions. The panels are installed to ensure the roof remains watertight, and the process takes approximately one to two days. After installation, the panels are connected to an inverter, which converts the direct current to alternating current, and a meter to measure the electricity produced. The owner of the panels becomes a producer of electricity, contributing to environmental protection by generating renewable energy.

10:02

🚀 The Future of Photovoltaic Energy

The final paragraph discusses the future of photovoltaic energy, highlighting that the cost of electricity from the grid is expected to rise while the cost of photovoltaic electricity is likely to decrease. It suggests that by 2018-2020, the cost of photovoltaic electricity could be on par with grid electricity. The paragraph also mentions the development of new battery technologies that will allow for the storage of excess daytime electricity for use at night. Additionally, it covers ongoing research to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic panels, which currently convert only about 15% of sunlight into electricity. Innovations in panel installation, such as flexible and lightweight modules for different roof types and vertical facade installations, are also discussed. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the ecological benefits of photovoltaic energy and its potential to contribute significantly to France's energy mix.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Photovoltaic effect

The photovoltaic effect refers to the ability of certain materials, such as silicon, to generate an electric current when exposed to light. This phenomenon is central to the operation of solar panels, as described in the video, where sunlight is converted into electricity. The discovery of this effect in 1839 by French physicist Antoine Becquerel laid the foundation for modern solar technology.

💡Silicon

Silicon is a semiconductor material extensively used in the construction of solar panels due to its abundance on Earth and its semiconductor properties. In the video, it is mentioned that silicon is doped to create an excess of electrons on one side and a deficit on the other, which is essential for generating an electric current when light hits the solar panels.

💡Doping

Doping in the context of solar panels refers to the process of introducing impurities into a semiconductor material, such as silicon, to alter its electrical properties. The video explains that doping creates a surplus of electrons in one layer (n-type) and a deficit in another (p-type), which is crucial for the photovoltaic effect to occur and generate electricity.

💡Electrical current

Electrical current is the flow of electric charge, typically carried by electrons, through a conductor. The video emphasizes that for an electric current to be produced, the movement of electrons must be in a specific direction, which is achieved through the doping process in solar panels.

💡Solar panels

Solar panels are devices that convert light into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. The video describes how solar panels are made from layers of silicon that are doped to create an electric field, which drives the flow of electrons when exposed to sunlight, thus generating electricity.

💡Energy production

Energy production in the context of the video refers to the generation of electricity from sunlight using solar panels. It highlights how solar panels can produce electricity as long as the sun is shining, contributing to a sustainable and renewable energy source.

💡Renewable energy

Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources, which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight. The video underscores the importance of photovoltaic solar energy as a renewable source that does not deplete and is environmentally friendly.

💡Efficiency

Efficiency in solar panels refers to the percentage of sunlight that is converted into electricity. The video mentions that current photovoltaic panels have an efficiency of about 15%, indicating that there is room for improvement in technology to capture and convert more of the sun's energy.

💡Heterojunction

Heterojunction is a term used in the video to describe a new technique in solar panel technology where two different types of silicon layers are used and doped in opposite ways to increase the efficiency of electricity generation. This innovation aims to enhance the performance of solar panels beyond the traditional homojunction approach.

💡Energy storage

Energy storage in the context of solar power refers to the ability to store excess electricity generated during the day for use when the sun is not shining. The video discusses the advent of new battery technologies that can store electricity produced by solar panels, allowing for the use of solar energy even at night.

💡Grid parity

Grid parity is the point at which the cost of generating electricity from solar power equals the cost of purchasing electricity from the grid. The video suggests that grid parity is an upcoming milestone, where solar power will be as cost-effective as traditional electricity, making it an even more attractive option for consumers.

Highlights

Light from the sun takes an average of 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach Earth, providing life, heat, and electricity.

The photovoltaic effect, which converts light into electricity, was discovered by French physicist Antoine Becquerel in 1839.

The first photovoltaic cells were created a century and a half after the discovery of the photovoltaic effect.

Photovoltaic panels are now widespread and operate based on the material they are made of, primarily silicon.

Silicon is an abundant element on Earth, extracted from quartz, and is a semiconductor essential for electricity production.

When exposed to light, electrons in silicon move in all directions, but this does not create an electric current.

Doping silicon creates an electrical tension by inducing a surplus of electrons on one side and a deficit on the other.

Photovoltaic panels are made up of multiple layers, with phosphorus added to one layer to create a negative electrode and boron to another to create a positive electrode.

Connecting the electrodes with a conductor and exposing the panels to sunlight generates an electric current.

Photovoltaic panels produce electricity as long as the sun shines, making them an inexhaustible source of energy.

Even in cloudy conditions, photovoltaic cells continue to produce electricity, as demonstrated by Germany's extensive photovoltaic capacity.

Installing photovoltaic panels involves a solar assessment by a specialist to determine the optimal setup based on various factors.

The installation process requires skills from both electricians and roofers to ensure the integrity of the roof is maintained.

New technologies, such as supports made from thermoplastics used in aeronautics, are being used to withstand various climate conditions.

Photovoltaic panels produce direct current, which is converted to alternating current by an inverter before being fed into the grid.

Producing electricity with photovoltaic panels does not emit greenhouse gases, contributing to environmental protection.

The electricity produced can be used locally or fed into the grid, providing a supplementary income for the producer.

EDF buys the electricity produced by photovoltaic panels at a state-set price guaranteed for 20 years.

A photovoltaic installation of 24 square meters can produce an annual output of 2400 to 3756 kilowatt-hours, depending on the location.

The cost of electricity from the grid is expected to rise, while the cost of photovoltaic electricity is decreasing, with parity expected by 2018-2020.

New generation batteries are being developed to store excess daytime electricity production for use during the night.

Research and development are focusing on improving the efficiency of photovoltaic panels, which currently convert about 15% of light energy into electricity.

Innovations such as heterojunction technology are being explored to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic panels.

Flexible and lightweight modules are being developed for installation on various types of roofs, including those with low slope or metal roofs.

Photovoltaic panels can also be installed vertically on building facades, providing thermal and acoustic insulation.

Photovoltaic solar energy is an ecological solution for today and tomorrow, complementing other renewable energy sources.

Covering just 10% of roofs in France with photovoltaic panels could produce 20% of the country's electricity consumption.