Electric currents in solar panels are made by knocking an electron loose from an atom of a PV material like silicon. This takes a lot of energy because silicon really wants to hold on to its electrons. Unlike metals which are great conductors of electricity, silicon semiconductors allow controlled electricity to flow through them.
Learn how the process works and what happens to the electricity generated. Solar energy is driven by the photovoltaic effect (PV), which captures energy from the sun. Each solar panel is organized into groups of PV cells, to create electricity by the following steps:
Electrons can be easily knocked out of the atoms of the semiconducting silicon material when photons i.e. light particles hit the surface of solar panels. When these photons hit the solar panel surface, their energy is the source of generating free electrons within the panel.
The photovoltaic effect turns light into electricity on an atomic level. Photons from the sun excite electrons in semiconductors, generating an electrical current. How does light absorption contribute to energy conversion in solar panels?
Basically, the electrons in a solar panel come from the material it is manufactured with. The basic morphology and atomic structure of the material is an important aspect to understand how electrons are generated in solar panels. See also: What Are Solar Panels? (How They are Made) What is the Association Between Electrons and Photons?
Simply put, photovoltaic cells allow solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. You've probably seen solar panels on rooftops all around your neighborhood, but do you know how they work to generate electricity?