Rooftop solar panels are photovoltaic (PV) panels that are installed on the roofs of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings to capture and convert sunlight into usable electricity. These panels consist of multiple solar cells made from semiconductor materials, typically silicon, which generate direct current (DC) electricity when exposed to sunlight.

In 2020, 3.7% of US homes generated electricity from small-scale solar panels, reports the US Energy Information Administration. According to a new report by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) on residential energy consumption, about 3.7% of US single-family homes generated electricity from small solar module in 2020.