Solar power works by capturing sunlight and converting it into usable energy. Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells convert sunlight directly into electricity, which can then be used to power homes, businesses and all sorts of devices, from streetlights and laptop computers to compact trash cans, cars, boats and desalination plants.
Solar energy and solar power definition
Solar energy comes from the sun in the form of natural light and heat. Solar power is generated by harnessing this energy and converting it into usable electricity or thermal power.
Solar power is not possible without specialized technologies such as photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) and solar heating and cooling (SHC), which convert solar energy into usable electricity. Everything from a single rooftop panel to a massive power plant relies on these technologies to power homes, electrical grids, greenhouses, electrical devices and even spacecraft orbiting the Earth.
The sun is a limitless and abundant resource. The amount of sunlight striking the Earth’s surface in an hour is enough to power the world’s energy consumption for a full year. With this kind of potential, it’s no wonder that solar power has become the fastest-growing energy source.
The environmental impact of solar energy
Solar power has been in use since ancient times, at least since the 3rd century B.C., when Greeks and Romans used mirrors to reflect sunlight for religious ceremonies. Today, solar power technologies are being embraced as an environmentally friendly energy source, as opposed to fossil-based energy systems like coal, gas and oil. Unlike these sources, which produce harmful emissions, solar energy technologies do not produce air pollution or greenhouse gases while operating.
As the need to tackle climate change because more urgent, industries and sectors have raised their net zero targets and are increasing their investment in low-carbon energy technologies. In fact, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), low-carbon energy technologies and clean power systems are projected to reach $2.2 trillion in 2026.
At Dassault Systèmes, we are committed to supporting the transition to low-carbon energy through our solutions like the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which enables companies to use virtual twin experiences to understand and transform their organization’s energy production. Customers across industries are using the platform’s suite of tools to measure and analyze their current energy consumption, identify opportunities to reduce energy use and transition to cleaner power sources such as nuclear, hydropower, wind and solar. In fact, according to the Dassault Systèmes 2025 Impact Report, 69% of the company’s revenue is now eligible for the EU Taxonomy, and 42.9% (vs. 35% in 2024) is aligned with the Taxonomy criteria on climate change or circular economy, showcasing an increased dedication to supporting clients in activities the EU recognizes as green.
How is solar energy converted into electricity?
There are three main types of solar energy technologies: concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP), photovoltaics (PV)and solar heating and cooling (SHC).
CSP, used primarily in large power plants, uses mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect and convert solar energy into heat, which can be used to produce electricity or stored for later use. PV technology, by contrast, converts sunlight directly into electricity through solar panels. SHC is a system in which the sun’s heat is captured directly for thermal applications such as hot water, pool heating and space heating.
How do solar panels work?
Solar panels work by utilizing PV technology to convert sunlight directly into electricity. Each panel is made up of many photovoltaic cells, also known as solar cells, which are typically made from silicon, a material that can absorb energy from sunlight.
The conversion takes place through a process called the photovoltaic effect. When particles of sunlight, known as photons, reach the solar cells, they cause electrons within the cells to move, creating an electrical current. This current travels through connecting wires to an inverter, which converts it into electricity that can power homes, businesses and other electrical systems. Any excess electricity can be stored in batteries or sent back to the power grid.
Is solar energy a renewable resource?
Yes! Solar energy is a renewable resource because it comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished. The sun is the ultimate renewable resource, and scientists expect a steady, limitless supply of sunlight for another 5 billion years.
Renewable energy sources are shown to be the most reliable, abundant and cost-effective form of energy security. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, more than 90% of utility-scale renewable projects commissioned in 2025 delivered power at a lower cost than the cheapest new fossil-fuel alternative. Since 2010, the global average cost of electricity from solar PV has fallen by 89%, saving consumers money, creating jobs and spurring investment in new technologies.
Advantages and disadvantages of using solar energy
There are many benefits to using solar energy to generate electricity and heat. However, solar energy systems also have some limitations.
What are the advantages of solar energy?
Solar energy systems offer the following benefits:
- No pollutants or greenhouse gases: Solar energy systems don’t produce harmful emissions during operation.
- Lower electricity costs and long-term savings: Solar installations can significantly reduce household and business energy bills. Upfront installation costs are offset by decades of reduced energy spending.
- Grid resilience: Solar energy generation strengthens the resilience of power grids.
- Recyclable materials: The materials used in solar panels are increasingly recycled, so in the coming years, the carbon footprint of solar energy resources will continue to shrink.
- Energy independence: Solar-powered homes in isolated areas can generate electricity without being connected to the electrical grid at all.
What are the disadvantages of solar energy?
Solar energy systems have the following disadvantages:
- Dependence on sunlight: The amount of electricity they produce can vary with the weather, season and time of day. Solar energy may require battery storage or electric grid support to supply electricity when sunlight is limited.
- Unique installation requirements: It is not always easy to find a suitable space for solar energy systems and there can be significant upfront costs.
Beyond these operational and installation considerations, the production of solar panels requires raw materials and energy, and panels must be properly recycled at the end of their useful life. These challenges are driving advances in panel efficiency, energy storage, sustainable materials and recycling, helping solar energy systems become more reliable, accessible and sustainable.
What is solar power used for?
From solar-powered homes to electric vehicles, solar power is changing the way people live, cook, travel and have fun. Real-world examples include:
- Rooftop PV panels: Some grid-connected homes generate more electricity than needed, which can then be sold back to the power grid.
- Solar streetlights: Small PV panels charge batteries during the day, and harness the accumulated energy into light once the sun goes down.
- Electric vehicles: Solar-powered cars, buses and bicycles are becoming increasingly popular around the world, allowing for emission-free travel.
- Solar cookers: Solar cooking devices can prepare anything that can be cooked in a conventional oven or stove, and can be used outdoors.
- Solar water heaters: Homes and swimming pools are increasingly heated with solar collectors.
Examples of solar power innovation across industries
Several Dassault Systèmes customers, partners and collaborators are using virtual twin experiences to develop sustainable innovations that harness solar energy resources.
Virtual twins validate designs for solar-powered drones
The French start-up XSun designs autonomous solar-powered drones, and used the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud to design, simulate and test the technology. Their system uses PV cells to power drones that can fly continuously over long distances for long periods, day or night, for infrastructure, agricultural, maritime and civil purposes.
Optimizing this complex system and determining the right configurations in terms of structure, load position and internal volume is incredibly challenging. In particular, designing the drone’s cooling system, which manages its solar energy, requires collaboration among multiple teams. To tackle this challenge, XSUN credits the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as fundamental to the collaborative design of their drones.
By leveraging CATIA and SIMULIA, the team was able to virtually test numerous design iterations and validate the aircraft design through realistic simulations before physical production. The result is a flying machine with highly efficient photovoltaic cells integrated into its wings that can fly for a minimum of 12 hours, with the goal of quickly increasing this to 20 hours. Use cases for this solar-powered drone are growing—with goals including rescue operations, weather monitoring, natural resource tracking and much more.
Using sunlight to transform refrigeration and preserve food longer
In India, where 70% of rural households depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, losing food to spoilage can be devastating. Some years ago, professors from N.K. Orchid College of Engineering & Technology in rural Solapur, India, partnered with La Fondation Dassault Systèmes—an organization dedicated to transforming the future of education and research—to help establish the Solar Research Centre.
They’re using solar-powered pasteurization and refrigeration to harness India’s abundant sunlight and convert it into electricity to preserve food longer. And a solar-powered milk pasteurization system converts milk into mawa, evaporated milk solids used to make Indian sweets, while a compact solar-powered dehydration system dries fruit and vegetables, prolonging their shelf life. Finally, their solar-powered water pump and water sprinkler are helping with irrigation, as water shortages and diminishing groundwater resources are ongoing problems.
Photovoltaic technology harvests light to power electronics and IoT devices
By 2027, battery regulations will become stricter, with the EU introducing requirements for the removability and replaceability of batteries in certain battery-powered products. This regulation comes in response to the impact of greenhouse gases from improperly disposed batteries and to increased efforts to embrace circular practices.
Dracula Technologies, a French startup based in Valence, is providing a new way to power electronics and IoT devices with their printable solar energy called Layer®. Ambient light is harvested from a photovoltaic module and converted into highly effective organic materials that can capture both natural and artificial light.
Dracula Technologies teamed up with Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Lab and has utilized the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for its chemistry, simulation and design solutions. They used BIOVIA for the chemical formulation of Layer® and virtual twin capabilities to assess performance, robustness and durability before production. The result is an excellent replacement for disposable batteries, offering a sustainable solution that can power electronics without producing carbon emissions.
More frequently asked questions about how solar power works
Solar power was not invented by a single person, but rather developed through key breakthroughs by multiple scientists over more than a century. French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect in 1839, American inventor Charles Fritts built the first selenium solar cell in 1883 and Bell Labs researchers created the first practical silicon solar cell in 1954.
Solar power works by converting sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic (PV) cells. The process involves four main steps:
1. Solar panels absorb sunlight.
2. PV cells convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
3. An inverter converts DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity.
4. The electricity is used to power homes and businesses or supplied to the electrical grid.
Yes, a house can run entirely on solar power if its solar energy system can generate enough electricity to meet the household’s energy needs. Battery storage can store excess solar energy for use at night or when sunlight is limited, helping provide power when solar panels are not actively generating electricity.
Related solar energy and solar power resources
- Clean Energy Technologies: Powering up Innovation
- Powering the Energy Transition with Virtual Twins
- Sustainable Energy
- What do critical materials have to do with clean energy?
***Originally published on July 10, 2024 and updated on November 4, 2026.
Melissa Russell is an award-winning journalist and editor living in the Boston area. She has written for many news outlets as well as for websites, trade publications and other platforms.