Sri Saravanas Agencies A solar panel is made up of multiple smaller units called solar cells. Most solar cells are made from silicon, a semiconductor material. When sunlight, which is composed of tiny packets of energy called photons, hits a solar cell, it knocks electrons free from the silicon atoms. These free electrons are then captured by an internal electric field, creating an electrical current. This current is a form of direct current (DC) electricity, which can be used to power devices or be converted to alternating current (AC) electricity for home use.