system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why can solar panels only convert roughly ~20% of sunlight received into energy? What will it take to increase this percentage?

I recently learned that only ~20% of sunlight received is converted into useable energy. Why is this? What will it to take to receive more energy from the solar cells?

Thanks!
gpt
Check various science sites - there is a lot of research into improving the efficiency.  There are some solar cells that have achieved over 40% efficiency (although these are still pretty expensive).

BTW, even though 20% seems low, did you know that a gasoline engine only delivers about 15% of the energy available in the gas?