Peak oil, energy, and society/Charlotte's page

Solar panels can be used for many things, including heating water, space heating, and electricity. The kind to make electricity is called a photovoltaic panel. It is made of silicon and has no moving parts. When the sun hits the solar cell, it converts it into electricity. Massachusetts Innovation Center has the largest collection of solar panels in New England on a renovated mill building in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Their system has no batteries and is connected to the grid. One benefit is that they are somewhat energy independent. A downside is that on cloudy days or when the panels are covered with snow they can’t produce much electricity and so they still have to rely on the grid most of the winter.