Notes

Solar cells contain a thin semiconductor wafer made of two layers of silicon. An electric field is formed when one layer is positively charged and the other negatively charged. Solar photovoltaic cells are powered by sunlight, which energizes the cells and causes electrons to be released from atoms inside the semiconductors. Due to the electric field surrounding the wafer, loose electrons are set in motion, which causes an electrical current to flow.
Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity efficiently, but the electricity generated is direct current electricity, which is not the type of electricity that power most homes, which is alternating current electricity. With an inverter device, DC electricity can be easily changed into AC electricity. Modern solar systems use either one inverter for the entire system or individual microinverters attached behind the panels.
A photovoltaic (PV) cell, also known as a solar cell, is an electronic component that generates electricity when exposed to photons, or particles of light. This conversion is called the photovoltaic effect, which was discovered in 1839 by French physicist Edmond Becquerel 1 .