How Do Solar Panels Work?
A solar panel works by what’s known as the photoelectric effect – the fact that some materials emit electrons when light is shone on them.
Inside each solar cell are 2 thin layers of silicon crystal. Both layers have been interfered with slightly so that their atoms are unstable. The atoms on the top layer all have 1 electron too many, and the atoms on the bottom layer all have too few electrons. Atoms don’t like having the wrong number of electrons, so the top ones are keen to get rid of their extra electrons, while the bottom ones are eager to acquire some.
However, the electrons need to be exposed to sunlight to give them the energy to get moving. And when electrons move, they create an electric current. At this stage, the electricity will be DC (direct current) – the kind of electricity you get in batteries – so you’ll have a device called an inverter, which turns it into AC (alternating current) electricity, the kind that comes off the mains and powers your home's appliances.