What do the terms Photovoltaic and PV mean?
Solar electric systems are commonly referred to as photovoltaic systems, “PV” for short. The photovoltaic effect (etymology: “photo” from the Greek meaning light; “voltaic” meaning voltage or electric current) is the ability of some materials (such as PV cells) to convert light energy from the sun into electricity. The PV cells are made up slices of silicon placed under a thin slice of glass. As photons from sunlight beat down onto the PV cells, they excite electrons in the silicon. Small wires on the silicon catch these electrons, and when joined together in a circuit an electric current is created.
