Question: how do solar panels work?

Nicholas Pearce answered on 17 Nov 2015:

Hey,

The energy from sunlight that lands on a solar panel is absorbed by a special substance and given to an electron in that substance. The electron with extra energy becomes more reactive and can react with an electrolyte solution inside the solar panel making it charged. The charged electrolyte then becomes attracted to a charged end of the solar panel (think positive and negative sides of a battery) and moved towards it. When it contacts the charged end the electron is given up as electricity and can flow through a circuit!