Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into electricity at the atomic level. In 1839, Edmond Becquerel discovered that electric current could be produced by exposing certain materials to light, laying the foundations for the development of photovoltaic technology. The first crystalline silicon photovoltaic cell was created in 1954 using the Czochralski process and achieved a six percent efficiency rate. Photovoltaic systems provide a reliable source of clean energy by converting sunlight into electricity without pollution. They are categorized as either grid-connected systems, which are connected to the local energy infrastructure, or off-grid systems for remote areas not connected to the energy grid.