What Are Solar Panels Made of?

Last updated on April 1, 2025

With the changing seasons and approaching summer, we can see how large an influence the sun has on our lives in Australia. The sun generates twice as many hours of energy as humans use every day.

To harness this energy, solar panels have become more readily available with improving performance and manufacturing efficiencies over the last decade. Almost all new home constructions have rooftops that are covered by solar panels.

What Are Solar Panels?

Solar panels are equipment that convert sunlight into electricity. They are made up of a number of individual solar cells, which are connected together to form a panel.

Solar panels are typically made from silicon, which is a semi-conducting material. When light hits the solar panel, it causes electrons to be knocked loose from the atoms of the silicon. These electrons flow through the solar panel to create an electric current.

Panels are made up of several different parts, including solar cells, metal frames, glass covers, and wiring. The number of solar cells in a panel can vary, but most panels have between 36 and 72 cells.

The solar cells are one of the key components of a solar panel, and they are what actually converts sunlight into electricity.

Modern photovoltaic cells include:

Front and back electrical contacts
Glass
Anti-reflective coating
P-type layer
N-type silicon base
P-N junction
Back surface field
Aluminium contact
Polymer back sheet

What Are Solar Panels Made From?

The core materials that are used for the production of solar panels are silicon, Solar cells, metal frames, glass covers, and wiring.

Silicon: Silicon is a semiconducting material that is found in sand. When light hits the silicon, it knocks off electrons away from the atoms of the silicon. These electrons flow through the solar panel to create an electric current.

Solar Cells: Solar cells are the structures that convert sunlight into electricity. A solar cell is made up of two layers of silicon. One layer has a positive charge, while the other has a negative charge.

When sunlight hits the solar cell, it causes the electrons to flow from the negative side to the positive side. This creates an electric current that can be used to power appliances or stored.

Metal frames: The metal frame provides the structural support for the solar panel system, and ensures the entire system is held together.

The aluminium frames play an important role in protecting the laminated portion of the solar cells while providing a solid structural framework for mounting the panels in place.

Extruded Aluminium sections are designed for very lightweight stiffness and strong resistance to extreme wind conditions.

The aluminium frame can be black silver or anodised black and depending on the manufacturer, the corner parts can be screwed, pressed or clamped to accommodate various strengths and stiffness levels.

Glass Cover: The glass cover protects the solar cells from damage. Glass panels protect PV panels from weather and from impact with hail. The glass is a typically tempered glass with good strength of 3.0-4.0 mm thickness and resists mechanical pressures and extreme heat changes.

In order to comply with IEC standards, the panel must withstand a hailstone up to 50 km/h (27m/h) in diameter.

The tempered glass shatters into smaller pieces in the event that accidental or significant damage occurs. For improved efficiency and performance, high transmissive glass, which contains a very low iron content, is used by most manufacturers.

Wiring: The wiring connects the solar cells to each other and to the power source.

How long do solar panels last?

Solar panels are built to last for decades. Most manufacturers offer a 25-year warranty on their products.

How Are Solar Panels Made: The Production Process

It is fairly simple to produce solar panels professionally, given the few main components of silicon, metal and glass. All three components are assembled into solar panels which contribute to the production of renewable energy from renewable materials.

Solar panels are made using a process called photovoltaic (PV) production. PV production involves creating solar cells, which are then connected together to form a panel.

First, silicon is purified and melted down into a liquid. It is then poured into moulds called ingots, which give the silicon its shape. Afterwards, the ingots are cut into wafers, or thin pieces of silicon.

The solar cells are then created by adding impurities to the silicon wafers. The impurities create what are called “p-type” and “n-type” layers in the solar cell. These layers are what allow the solar cell to create an electric current.

Finally, the solar cells are connected together to form a panel. The panels are then covered with a glass sheet and fixed together within a metal frame.

How are solar panels assembled and manufactured

Solar panel assembly can be accomplished by automated robots or a combination of automated robots to position components with a high degree of precision.

Manufacturing plants should be highly efficient to ensure that there is no contamination at the assembly line.

During the manufacturing stage, panels and cells are monitored and checked with advanced optical sensors to ensure the exact placement of components and that the cell wafers, which are delicate, do not suffer damage during the manufacturing process.

Where do the materials for solar panels come from?

The materials for solar panels all come from the earth. Silicon, metal, and glass are all mined from the earth.

What are the raw materials needed to make solar panels?

The raw materials needed to make solar panels are: Silicon, Metal and Glass

Where are solar panels manufactured?

Solar panels are manufactured in factories. The factories are usually located near the mines where the raw materials are found.

First step: Mining

The first step is to mine the raw materials. Silicon, metal, and glass are all mined from the earth.

Second step: Refining

The next step is to refine the raw materials. The silicon is purified and processed into ingots. The metal is cast into sheets and the glass is cut into cells.

Third step: doping

Doping is the process of adding impurities to the silicon. This is what gives silicon its electrical properties.

Fourth step: growing crystals

The silicon ingots are heated to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and then cooled to form single crystals.

Fifth step: slicing the crystal

The single crystals are sliced into thin wafers.

Sixth step: making the solar cells

The solar cells are made by sandwiching the wafers between two layers of conducting material.

Seventh step: testing

The solar cells are tested to see if they meet the standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Eighth step: packaging

The solar cells are packaged into solar modules and then into panels.

Are solar panels made of glass or plastic?

Solar panels are made of glass. Plastic is only used to cover the solar cells to protect them from the environment.

What is the cost of producing solar panels?

The cost of producing solar panels has dropped significantly throughout the years. The cost of silicon has fallen by 99% since 1975. The cost of energy produced from solar panels is now typically cheaper than energy from coal or natural gas.

Can I make my own solar panels?

Yes, you can make your own solar panels. However, it is not recommended unless you are a qualified engineer.

Who is the largest manufacturer of solar panels?

SunPower, Jinko Solar, Canadian Solar, and Trina Solar are some of the largest producers of solar panels.

Is coal used in the production of solar panels?

Though it may seem counterintuitive, the production of solar panels actually requires the use of coal. Coal is used as a raw material to produce the chemicals used in the manufacturing process, specifically polyvinyl chloride (PVC).