A solar cell converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.

The solar cell works in three steps:

1) Photons in sunlight hit the solar panel and are absorbed by semiconducting materials, such as silicon.

2) Electrons (negatively charged) are knocked loose from their atoms, causing an electric potential difference. Current starts flowing through the material to cancel the potential and this electricity is captured. Due to the special composition of solar cells, the electrons are only allowed to move in a single direction.

3) An array of solar cells converts solar energy into a usable amount of direct current (DC) electricity.