The magic of solar cells
Most solar panels are made from pure silicon (or other semiconductor material), the second most abundant element on Earth. Silicon enables the photovoltaic effect, which efficiently converts sunlight into clean energy. This is where the term PV cell, or photovoltaic cell, comes from.
Crystalline silicon solar cells are created by slicing a silicon ingot into thin sheets, producing silicon wafers. These panels are doped with other elements to create a positive-negative (P-N) junction. When sunlight hits the cells, it dislodges electrons, generating an electric current.
The main silicon solar cell types are: