Sunlight hits the panel
The panel is covered with tiny cells made of special materials (like silicon) that react when light touches them. Light is what generates the power, not the heat of the sun.

Light turns into electricity
When sunlight hits those cells, it knocks loose tiny particles called electrons. Those moving electrons create electricity.

The electricity flows in a circuit
Wires inside the panel guide that electricity into your house, but they must be converted so it can be used.

It gets converted for your home
The electricity that comes out of the panel isn’t the same kind your outlets use; it is DC power. Our home generally uses AC power, so a device called an inverter changes it into usable power.

You can use it or send it back
The power can run your lights, TV, fridge, cell phone, computer, etc. If you make more than you need, extra power can sometimes go back into the grid.

To simplify, sunlight → electricity in the panel → inverter makes it usable → powers your home.