A solar panel contains many small, square photovoltaic (PV) cells. These semiconductors are made from thin layers of silicon and other conductive materials. When sunlight comes into direct contact with these panels, a chemical reaction takes place and the solar energy is converted to direct current (DC) electricity. The process is similar to how a plant uses the sun's energy to make food through photosynthesis. The electricity passes into an inverter, at which point it is either used immediately or stored in our battery storage bank. We use this stored electricity to power the network systems at night or during bouts of extremely bad weather. The grid generates six kilowatts per day, well above what we need to ensure continuous operation of our equipment.