How Solar Panels Work

The slice on top gets phosphorus for a negative charge and the slice on bottom.

How solar panels work. It s an idea that has been around for well over a century. Each cell is a sandwich made from two slices of semiconductor material usually silicon. Solar panels work by absorbing sunlight with photovoltaic cells generating direct current dc energy and then converting it to usable alternating current ac energy with the help of inverter technology. When you really break them down a solar panel is nothing more than a big sheet of glass over a metal frame with a patch of wiring that runs to your home s main.

Solar panels are made up of these small things called pv cells and many pv cells linked together make a solar panel. Each solar panel is made up of tons of individual photovoltaic cells. How do solar panels work. Ac energy then flows through the home s electrical panel and is distributed accordingly.

Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units. Solar photovoltaic pv panels are based on a high tech but remarkably simple technology that converts sunlight directly to electricity. Solar energy works when the photons of an atom knock the electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. In 1839 french scientist edmond becquerel discovered that certain materials would give off sparks of electricity when struck with sunlight.