A photovoltaic (PV) cell, commonly called a solar cell, is a nonmechanical device that converts sunlight directly into electricity. Sunlight is composed of photons, or particles of solar energy. The efficiency of the solar cells used in a photovoltaic system, in combination with latitude and climate, determines the annual energy output of the. . Solar energy can be harnessed two primary ways: photovoltaics (PVs) are semiconductors that generate electricity directly from sunlight, while solar thermal technologies use sunlight to heat water for domestic uses, to warm buildings, or heat fluids to drive electricity-generating turbines. Both are generated through the use of solar panels, which range in size from residential rooftops to 'solar farms' stretching over acres of rural land. Is solar power a clean energy source? Yes, solar power is. .
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