What is solar? How does it work?

The Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) program provides a great primer in the history of solar energy, and how it works. This material is available at:

http://www.eere.energy.gov/basics/renewable_energy/photovoltaics.html

The Thurston Energy web site takes a local focus on the technology, and describes how PV systems work with a local energy provider. Since TE's services focus on homeowners, this discussion refers to home applications. The technology and installation considerations are the same for homes and businesses.

http://www.thurstonenergy.org/resources/renewable-energy-technologies/