SOLAR MODULE is a number of solar cells connected together and encapsulated to give an electrical output. For larger systems, the modules can be connected in series and parallel to form a solar array.

General information on solar cell technology:
Solar cells directly convert sunlight into electricity by means of the photovoltaic effect. This occurs when photons are absorbed by a solar cell which generates a voltage across its terminals. Cells are connected in series within a solar module to provide sufficient voltage to operate a system. Modules can be connected in series and parallel to increase the system power. This solid state process provides a clean, silent, non-polluting and reliable source of electrical energy. A crystal is a regular geometric state taken up by a material’s constituent elements in certain conditions. Mono and multi-crystalline cells are silicon wafers sliced from cylindrical silicon crystals. These wafers are then chemically treated in furnaces to enhance their electrical properties, after which an anti-reflection coating is applied to the cell surface to help it absorb radiation more effectively. Thin metal wires are soldered to the front of the cell. These “ribbons” of metal on the cell act as the positive contact, while a solid layer of metal on the back of the cell acts as the negative contact.