Does Photovoltaic technology need bright sunshine to work properly?
A PV system needs daylight to work but not direct sunlight. Indeed, if a PV module is exposed to an artificial light, it will also produce electricity. The light of the sun consists both of direct light and indirect or diffuse light (which is the light that has been scattered by dust and water particles in the atmosphere). Photovoltaic cells not only use the direct component of the light, but also produce electricity when the sky is overcast. It is a common misconception that PV only operates in direct sunshine and is therefore not suitable for use in temperate climates. This is not correct: photovoltaic make use of diffuse solar radiation as well as direct sunlight. When sunlight strikes a photovoltaic cell, direct current (DC) is generated. By putting an electric load across the cell, this current can be utilised. The amount of useful electricity generated by a PV module is proportional to the intensity of light energy, which falls onto the conversion area. The greater the available
