The Sun
Solar energy is quite simply the energy produced directly by the sun and collected on Earth. The sun creates its energy through a thermonuclear process that converts hydrogen to helium. That process creates heat and electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation (including visible light, infra-red light, and ultra-violet radiation) streams out into space in all directions. A small fraction of that radiation reaches the Earth. With the help of solar panels, that radiation can be harnessed and later converted into electricity.

Solar Panels
Photovoltaic (or PV) systems convert light energy into electricity. The term "photo" is a stem from the Greek "phos", which means "light." "Volt" is named for Alessandro Volta, a scientist who studied electricity in the 18th and 19th centuries. Photovoltaic systems are most commonly known as "solar systems." The primary component of a solar system is an array of panels that directly converts sunlight into electrical energy. Solar panels contain crystal cells made of semiconductor material, usually silicon. These cells transform light from the sun into an electrical current.