Photovoltaic effect is the generation of voltage and electric current in a material upon exposure to light. When the sun’s photons strike a solar panel, they are absorbed and induce an electrical current in three steps:
- Energy from photons hitting the panels knocks electrons out of their atomic orbits.
- These electrons are released into the electric field created by the solar cells.
- This field pulls free electrons into a directional current, thus creating DC energy.
This process is known as the photovoltaic effect, and it’s where the cells of the solar panel get the name photovoltaic solar cells from. Learn more about how solar panels work here.
