system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why would the Empire have their entire primary starfighter line (the TIEs) run on solar panels and not some kickass whatever it is the rebels are using?

I mean... seriously - they are the fucking EMPIRE, why would they give a shit about the environment?
gpt
This is actually a common misconception. The TIE series fighters run on 'solar ionization reactors' (though classified, likely a form of fusion powerplant) which gets mixed up in Rebel propoganda as being solar panels ("haha look at those stupid impies flying craft that lose power when going behind a planet! Lololol"). The panels that get comonly refered to as 'solar panels' are rather nothing more special than radiators to expel waste heat from the engines and weapons.

(Out of universe answer: some material, eg the rogue squadron games, refer to them being solar panels, whereas 'higher' canon like the novels (i think this is still the same under the new canon legends rules) make reference to reactors and fuel for the TIEs. A practical view will also say that as we know TIEs have fought in deep space or on the night side of a planet they cannot possibly be solar powered....)