Question: how is solor energy actually contained to be electricity?

Amelia Markey answered on 23 Jun 2011:

Solar panels are made of semi-conductive material, usually silicon (this means it can conduct electricity better than an insulator but not as well as a conductor). This material contains electrons which can absorb energy from the Sun. These electrons gain the energy from the Sun and can then carry this energy as an electrical charge through a circuit.

Here’s an article from NASA that explains it in more detail:

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/solarcells/