Derived from the Latin world sol, the sun is our earth’s natural source of life, light and heat. Together, the words solar energy refer to the energy given off by the sun’s heat —an energy that can neither be created nor destroyed, but is instead converted into other forms of energy such as electricity
Our sun is a natural nuclear reactor and is continually releasing energy in the form of photons. When a photon hits the solar panel on your roof or in your yard, the energy is transferred into loose electrons, freeing them from their atoms. These electrons run along a series of cells in your solar panel which are made up of the semi-conducting material silicon
Each panel is made of solar cells, and each cell contains two slices of silicon. Much like a magnetic field requires two opposite poles, a solar cell requires two opposite charges to create an electric field. To do this, manufacturers add electrons to one slice of silicon using phosphorus, and protons to the other slice using boron
With an electric field intact, the loose electrons that hit your solar panels from the sun are then pushed out of the silicon and into conductive metal plates, and flow into wires to be used just like any other form of electricity, providing a clean and cost-effective alternative to powering your home
