The sun provides about an hour of the present energy requirements of the entire human population for a whole year [1]. Through solar panels, solar energy is converted to a more useful form of energy such as electricity.

Here is how energy from the sun is converted to electricity using solar panels:

1. Light from the sun is made up of tiny packets of energy called photons [2].

2. Solar panels are composed of smaller units called photovoltaic (PV) cells. PV cells are made of semiconductor materials that absorb energy from photons [3].

3. When the semiconductor material absorbs enough photon energy, electrons are dislodged from the material's atoms. The movement of electrons inside the PV cell creates an electric current [4].

4. Electric current flows to the edge of the panel into conductive wire leading to the inverter [5].

5. Direct current (DC) from the solar panel is converted to alternating current (AC) using an inverter [5].

6. Alternating current or AC is used to provide power for different appliances at home [5].

References:

[1] Fthenakis, V. M., & Lynn., P. A. (2018). Electricity from Sunlight: Photovoltaic-Systems Integration and Sustainability (2nd ed.). Weinheim: Wiley Global Research (STMS).

[2] https://www.pveducation.org/.../properti.../energy-of-photon

[3] https://www.energy.gov/.../solar-photovoltaic-cell-basics

[4] https://www.eia.gov/.../photovoltaics-and-electricity.php

[5] https://solarpower.guide/solar.../how-do-solar-panels-work