How Do Solar Panels Work?

How do solar panels work?

A PV (photovoltaic) panel consists of solar cells, a metal frame,  and glass panels. In its simplest form, photovoltaic panels convert sunlight energy into electricity. Below is a brief breakdown of the process and how solar panels work.

Sunlight is made up of photons, which are called solar particles. Each photon consists of a different amount of energy.

When sunlight hits a photovoltaic cell, photons are reflected or absorbed. The absorbed photons "knock off" the electrons, creating a current that flows through the circuit.

Photovoltaic cells are strung together to form modules (panels) that can be combined into arrays through which current flows as direct current (DC).

The inverter converts the DC output of the PV array to alternating current (AC), which can be used immediately or fed into the utility grid.