The rise of solar photovoltaics, or solar panels, over the last fifteen years has been a groundbreaking development in energy generation. Solar PV technology has grown rapidly, with a ten-thousand-fold decrease in costs since its invention in the 1950s. Solar panels generate electricity by converting sunlight into power through p-n junctions. However, the intermittency of solar energy poses a challenge, as power production is dependent on sunlight availability. Adding energy storage through lithium-ion batteries can help address this issue, but the cost-effectiveness of solar PV systems depends on the balance between panel capacity and storage capacity. As costs continue to decline, solar energy holds immense potential for powering a significant portion of our energy consumption.
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