A solar cell is a panel that converts solar power, i.e. photons into electricity. When the solar cell is illuminated, its front is negative and its back is positive, so that the electricity can be retrieved through it.

Standard PV technology is based on solar cells that are constructed into modules. The most applied  PV material is super pure silicon and silicon-based modules currently have a market share of approximately 90 percent.

Various thin film technologies based on materials such as CdTe (cadmium telluride), CIGS (copper
indium gallium arsenide), CuInSe2 (copper indium diselenide) and a-Si (amorphous silicon) are also used.

Technology development is driven by the need for lower costs and more efficient technology. New technologies under development include concentrated PV, organic PV and PV based on nanotechnology.