This comprehensive guide explores everything you need to know about photovoltaic solar panels, from the underlying science to practical installation considerations, helping you make informed decisions whether you're a homeowner, business owner, or industry professional. What Are Photovoltaic Solar. Renewable energy generation around the world is continuing to increase, and solar photovoltaics (PV) play a crucial role in this progress. Growth in both utility-scale and distributed solar PV installations is set to more than double over the next 5 years, accounting for almost 80% of worldwide. You probably already know that solar panels use the sun's energy to generate clean, usable electricity. But have you ever wondered how they actually do it? At a high level, solar panels are made up of solar cells, which absorb sunlight. In this basic introduction, we look at how this happens. How do solar panels work? Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. A solar panel is a device that converts sunlight into electricity by using multiple solar modules that consists of photovoltaic (PV) cells. PV cells are made of materials that produce excited electrons when exposed to light. Solar thermal panels use the sun's energy to produce heat.