Collection: Photovoltaic solar panels Photovoltaic solar panels

A solar panel is a device that captures the energy of solar radiation for use. The term includes solar collectors, usually used to produce domestic hot water using solar thermal energy , and photovoltaic panels , used to generate electricity using photovoltaic solar energy .

Photovoltaic solar panels are made up of numerous cells that convert light into electricity. The cells are sometimes called photovoltaic cells. These cells rely on the photovoltaic effect, whereby light energy produces positive and negative charges in two nearby semiconductors of different types, thus producing an electric field capable of generating a current.