Once sunlight has been converted into electrical energy by the solar cells within a double-glass solar panel, that energy must be collected and transported for use. This is accomplished through a series of conductive metal contacts that are connected to the solar cells. These contacts collect the generated electrical current and transport it to an inverter, which converts the direct current (DC) produced by the solar cells into alternating current (AC) that can be used to power electrical devices or fed into the electrical grid.