Solar pv panels, also called solar photovoltaic panels or solar electric modules, generate power when exposed to high levels of light. The photovoltaic effect was discovered in 1839 by nineteen-year-old Edmund Becquerel.

Modern solar pv panels were first developed commercially for NASA and the space race in the 1950's. With no moving parts, solar pv is a silent and reliable method of producing electricity in remote locations.

Top quality solar modules have power performance warranties of 20 years, with an expected life of 60 years or more. An early commercial solar pv system, now 46 years old, is still producing power within warranty guidelines.

Solar pv panels are currently available in three main silicon-based technologies. Monocrystalline solar cells are the most efficient and also the most expensive. Polycrystalline or multicrystalline solar cells are almost as efficient as mono cells and are less expensive to manufacture.

Amorphous solar pv modules are the most cost effective technology. These modules perform better than the other types in cloudy conditions, however they are less efficient and therefore require more installation space.