Kalmar photovoltaics (PV) an fara ambatonta ne a shekara ta 1890, kuma ta fito daga kalmomin Helenanci: hoto, âphos,â ma'ana haske,
Photovoltaics shine juyawar haske kai tsaye zuwa wutar lantarki a matakin atomic. Wasu kayan suna nuna wata kadara da aka sani da tasirin photoelectric wanda ke sa su ɗaukar photons na haske da sakin electrons.