How solar panel generates energy

How do solar panels create electricity?

But if you want to go a bit deeper into the process of how solar panels create electricity, we'll explain what you should know. Solar cells are typically made from a material called silicon, which generate electricity through a process known as the photovoltaic effect.

How do solar panels work?

As we've explained, the solar cells that make up each solar panel do most of the heavy lifting. Through the photovoltaic effect, your solar panels produce a one-directional electrical current, called direct current (DC) electricity. Your home can't use DC electricity directly––it needs to be converted to alternating current (AC) electricity first.

How do solar photovoltaic cells work?

Solar photovoltaic cells are grouped in panels, and panels can be grouped into arrays of different sizes to power water pumps, power individual homes, or provide utility-scale electricity generation. Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (copyrighted)

How does a solar cell convert sunlight into electricity?

A solar cell is a device people can make that takes the energy of sunlight and converts it into electricity. How does a solar cell turn sunlight into electricity? In a crystal, the bonds [between silicon atoms] are made of electrons that are shared between all of the atoms of the crystal.

How does solar PV work?

While the energy source is the same – the sun – the technology in each system is different. Solar PV is based on the photovoltaic effect, by which a photon (the basic unit of light) impacts a semi-conductor surface like silicon and generates the release of an electron.

What is solar energy & how does it work?

Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource on Earth. Each day, it’s harvested as electricity or heat, fueling homes, businesses, and utilities with clean, emission-free power. As the world pivots towards sustainable energy solutions, solar power is crucial in shaping our global energy landscape. But how does it work, exactly?