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Solar cells are made up of silicon atoms. Think of atoms as building blocks—like Lego blocks, but because of their small size, you need special tools to see them. The solar cells are derived from layers of silicon wafers that are about the size of a dinner plate, but much thinner—only about three times thicker than an average human hair.

Turning the silicon crystalline layer into a solar panel requires a special preparation process. The silicon crystalline layer is heated to 1000 degrees Celsius, and then a layer of metal is placed on the back of the layer, while the solar cell is covered with a layer of holes. Metal mesh and let this side face the sun.

When the 60 solar cells are made, they will be fastened to a layer of glass to make a solar panel. Typically, rooftop solar power systems have 10-50 solar panels, while rural solar power plants have millions of solar panels installed.

Each silicon atom contains tiny, light-mass electrons that carry a weak electric charge. When sunlight falls on a solar panel, it hits one of the electrons and dislodges the electron's orbit. These hit electrons are free to move, but the special construction of the battery allows the electrons to move only in one direction toward the sun.

So when sunlight falls on a solar cell, many electrons will disengage from their orbits and become free electrons. Because of the nature of solar cells, electrons can only move upwards, creating an electrical current that can drive household appliances.

The stronger the sunlight falling on the solar cell, the more electrons will be knocked out of their orbits, and the greater the current that will be generated. If the weather is not sunny, the number of electrons being struck will be reduced, and the current produced will be reduced by 75 percent or more. At night, the solar panels do not generate any electricity, and the power supply at this time is completely dependent on batteries or other power sources.