You probably already know that solar panels use the sun's energy to generate clean, usable electricity. But have you ever wondered how they do it?

If you’ve been considering installing rooftop solar panels, you might have some unanswered questions about the process like how much solar do I need or what is the cost of installation. Finding answers can be difficult and confusing.

Solar panels respond to both direct sunlight coming straight from the sun and diffuse sunlight reflected from particles in clouds and the atmosphere. Solar panels are usually able to generate some electricity even on a cloudy day. However, most electricity is produced on clear days when direct sunlight hits the panels.

Harnessing the Sun’s EnergySolar panels, composed of photovoltaic (PV) cells, convert sunlight directly into electricity by leveraging the photovoltaic effect. When photons from sunlight strike semiconductor materials like silicon, they dislodge electrons, creating an electric current. This process generates clean…