Solar energy works by capturing the sun’s light and heat using solar panels made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells. These PV cells convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity, which is then passed through an inverter to convert it into alternating current (AC) electricity. This AC electricity can be used to power homes, businesses, and communities, or it can be stored in batteries for later use. The surplus energy that is not used can be fed back into the grid.