Photovoltaics: how a cell works, losses, and strategies to limit them

Photovoltaic (or PV) conversion consists of converting photons (from the sun) with sufficient energy for the semiconductor in question into electron-hole pairs, which are then collected by a PN junction and used to generate electrical energy.

The basic component that performs this conversion is called a "photovoltaic cell," at the terminals of which a voltage and a current characteristic of the incident light flux can be measured.

The sun sends abundant energy to Earth in the form of a light flux consisting of different wavelengths, and therefore photons of very different energies. This energy, sent at all times, is particularly abundant since it represents around 10,000 times the current global energy consumption.