Enterprises in Operation
Supervised
Power (kW)
Type The amount Power %
(kW)
Hydroelectric Power Plant (CGH) 426 260,579 261,785 0.21
Wind Power Plant (EOL) 103 2,136,168 2,137,372 1.7
Small Hydroelectric Power Plant (PCH) 462 4,634,488 4,595,348 3.66
Central generator Solar Photovoltaic
35 6785 2,785 0
(UFV)
Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) 194 86,713,255 80,797,124 64.3
Thermoelectric Power Plant (UTE) 1765 37,746,583 35,894,903 28.6
Thermonuclear Plant (UTN) two 1,990,000 1,990,000 1.58
Total 2990 133,487,858 125,679,317 100
The working principle of photovoltaic cells is simple and is based on the properties of
semiconductor materials. At the top, there is a metallic structure and just below there are two layers.
The top layer is called “n” type silicon and the bottom layer is called “p” type silicon. The joining
of these two layers is called a “pn” join.
The most used semiconductor is silicon because its atoms are characterized by having four
electrons that bind to neighboring atoms, forming a crystalline network. When adding atoms with
five bonding electrons, like phosphorus, for example, there will be an excess electron that cannot be
paired and that will be loosely bonded to its parent atom. This causes, with little thermal energy, this
electron to free itself, going to the conduction band. Phosphorus is an electron donor and is called
dopant n. On the other hand, atoms with only three bonding electrons are introduced, as is the case
with boron. These atoms have a deficiency of one electron to satisfy the bonds with the silicon atoms
in the lattice. This lack of electrons is called a hole or gap, and with little thermal energy, an electron
from a neighboring site can pass into these holes. Boron is therefore said to be a p dopant.
If starting from pure silicon, boron atoms are introduced in one half and phosphorus in the
other, the pn junction will be formed. What happens at this junction is that free electrons from the n
side pass to the p side where they meet the holes that trap them. This causes an accumulation of
electrons on the p side, making it negatively charged, and a reduction of electrons on the n side,
which makes it electrically positive. These trapped charges give rise to a permanent electric field
that makes it difficult for more electrons to pass from the n-side to the p-side. This process reaches
an equilibrium when the electric field forms a barrier capable of barring the remaining free electrons
on the n-side.
4. CONCLUSION
The insertion of energy from renewable energy sources in the global energy matrix has been
increasingly necessary due to the increase in electricity consumption and environmental problems
caused mainly by the burning of fossil fuels. The conversion of solar energy into electrical energy
using photovoltaic cells has become a very viable alternative, as it uses an inexhaustible source of
energy if we consider the terrestrial time scale. In addition to using only sunlight to generate
electricity, photovoltaic modules do not need to be located in specific areas, do not generate noise
during the conversion process, and can be coupled to buildings.
Although several leading countries in electricity generation from sunlight, such as Germany,
Italy, Japan, and the USA, invest for greater efficiency and use of sunlight, the average prices are
relatively high due to the conversion rate of approximately 18%. However, in a few years, with more
advanced technologies, the efficiency of photovoltaic cells will be much higher than those found
today, due to studies and possible elements that can be added to the photovoltaic cell. This increase
in efficiency and improvement of technology can be observed in several other technologies and thus
will lead to a greater use of photovoltaic cells to generate electricity.
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