How do solar panels work?

■ Panels are made up of lightabsorbing cells, protected by glass or plastic.

■ Each cell contains layers of a semi-conducting material, usually silicon. The silicon is ‘doped’ with phosphorous (for a positive charge) or boron (for a negative charge).

■ When photons (light particles) hit the silicon, it creates an electrical charge which is collected by metal plates and transferred into wires.