Photovoltaics - Wikipedia
Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and …
Photovoltaics | Department of Energy
Photovoltaic (PV) technologies – more commonly known as solar panels – generate power using devices that absorb energy from sunlight and convert it into electrical energy through …
Photovoltaics and electricity - U.S. Energy Information ...
May 24, 2024 · A photovoltaic (PV) cell, commonly called a solar cell, is a nonmechanical device that converts sunlight directly into electricity. Some PV cells can convert artificial light into …
Solar Photovoltaic Technology Basics | NREL
Aug 27, 2025 · Solar cells, also called photovoltaic cells, convert sunlight directly into electricity. Photovoltaics (often shortened as PV) gets its name from the process of converting light …
How Do Solar Cells Work? Photovoltaic Cells Explained
Jul 25, 2024 · The conversion of sunlight, made up of particles called photons, into electrical energy by a solar cell is called the "photovoltaic effect" - hence why we refer to solar cells as …
Photovoltaics (PV) – Definition & Detailed Explanation ...
Sep 15, 2025 · Photovoltaic systems work by utilizing solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity. These solar cells are made up of semiconductor materials, such as silicon, that absorb …
Photovoltaics – SEIA
Photovoltaic (PV) devices generate electricity directly from sunlight via an electronic process that occurs naturally in certain types of material, called semiconductors.