3. From the cell to the panel
A photovoltaic cell typically produces a few watts. To increase the power output, several photovoltaic cells are connected in series to form modules. These modules are then connected to one another to form panels.
The short-circuit voltage of a pn junction is on the order of the bandgap divided by the electron charge, or on the order of one volt. The maximum power output from a 1 cm
2
cell with a 20% efficiency under standard conditions is approximately 5 mW. Thus, the current delivered by such a cell is on the order of a few milliamps. A 10 × 10 cm
2
Si cell thus delivers approximately 1.5 W under standard test conditions.
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From the cell to the panel