Solar panels are devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity using the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon discovered over 180 years ago. Each panel contains dozens of individual solar cells made primarily from silicon, sandwiched between protective layers of glass and polymer. When photons from sunlight strike the silicon, they knock electrons loose and create an electric current that can power homes, businesses, and entire communities.

A solar panel, often called a photovoltaic module, is a device that converts sunlight directly into electricity. This transformation relies on the photovoltaic effect, a physical phenomenon discovered in the nineteenth century. Each panel contains dozens of solar cells, typically made from crystalline silicon. These cells absorb photons from sunlight, freeing electrons from their atomic bonds. When electrons move through the material, they generate a flow of direct current electricity. Multiple panels connected together form an array, capable of producing substantial amounts of power.

Solar panels capture energy from sunlight and turn it into electricity. They do this without moving parts, without fuel, and without creating pollution. This simple concept has made them one of the most important technologies for clean energy production today.