When the sun is shining, PV systems can generate electricity to directly power devices such as water pumps or supply electric power grids. As we pursue advanced materials and next-generation technologies, we are enabling PV across a range of applications and locations. Many acres of PV panels can provide utility-scale power—from tens of megawatts to more than a gigawatt of. 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. On this page you'll find resources to learn what solar energy is; how you, your business, or your community can go solar; and find resources for every step of the way. Some PV cells can convert artificial light into electricity. Sunlight is composed of photons, or particles of solar energy.
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