Solar energy is known as the photovoltaic process, radiation from the sun is converted into electricity. Although understood by scientists for many years, this process did not receive attention until the 1950s, when the first silicon solar cell was invented. Since the energy crises of the 1970s, there has been an increasing demand for solar energy technicians. These technicians install, maintain, operate, and test equipment and energy systems that use solar energy. Each solar energy project, from conception to installation, requires the services of many technicians with various skills.

Solar power is by far the Earth's most available energy source, easily capable of providing many times the total current energy demand. The largest solar power plants, like the 354 MW SEGS, are concentrating solar thermal plants, but recently multi-megawatt photovoltaic plants have been built. Completed in 2008, the 46 MW Moura photovoltaic power station in Portugal and the 40 MW Waldpolenz Solar Park in Germany are characteristic of the trend toward larger photovoltaic power stations.

Solar power is an intermittent energy source, meaning that solar power is not available at all times, and is normally supplemented by storage or another energy source, for example with wind power and hydropower.