Energy radiating directly from the sun has always been available to us.
How do solar cells convert sunlight into electricity? These photovoltaic (PV) cells are made up of special materials, particularly the element silicon, which allows them to absorb light. Silicon is known as a semiconductor due to its absorptive and insulative properties.
In solar cells, silicon is placed under non-reflective glass to collect photons (units of electromagnetic energy) from the sun. The PV cells have one or more electric fields that essentially force the electrons harnessed by the absorption of sunlight to move in a certain direction. This movement of electrons, called a current, is further guided by metal contacts on the PV cell.
Individual solar cells are packaged into solar panels that can be mounted on your roof or on the ground to take advantage of the free energy landing there every day.
Photovoltaic systems can either be standalone or grid connected. In a grid-connected system, the PV cells produce power in parallel with the electrical utility (i.e. your local power company), which uses a utility grid to connect and distribute power to its users.
