A solar panel is a device that captures sunlight and converts it into electricity through photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaics (often shortened as PV) gets its name from the process of converting light (photons) to electricity (voltage), which is called the photovoltaic effect.   The typical solar panel is composed of individual solar cells, each of which is made from layers of silicon, boron and phosphorus. When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV cells in the panel. This energy creates electrical charges that move in response to an internal electrical field in the cell, causing electricity to flow. PV voltage, or photovoltaic voltage, is the energy produced by a single PV cell. Each PV cell creates open-circuit voltage, typically referred to as VOC. At standard testing conditions, a PV cell will produce around 0.5 or 0.6 volts, no matter how big or small the cell actually is. 

There are 3 types of solar panels primarily used in the solar industry:

• Monocrystalline solar panels.

• Polycrystalline solar panels.

• Thin film (amorphous) solar panels.

5 Benefits of Residential Solar:

• Benefit 1: Solar panels are increasingly affordable. 

• Benefit 2: You can save money by going solar. 

• Benefit 3: You can keep the lights on when the grid goes down. 

• Benefit 4: Solar will often increase the value of your home. 

• Benefit 5: Solar systems work in a variety of climates.