There is no current, so there's no power loss or thermal stress; It's a normal and expected state of operation. As long as the panel is not short-circuited or connected improperly, being under sunlight without a load does not harm it in any way. Prospective solar owners often ask: Do I need batteries for solar to work? The honest answer is: it depends on how your system is designed. Photovoltaic. While it is not common, it is possible to use a solar panel directly without a battery or the grid as a reference, but you need to use an electronic called DC to DC converter, which stabilizes the voltage at a certain level. Solar panel directly powering a load – Source: Electrical. Still, brilliant technological advancements have made it possible for everyone to access solar power without having to put panels on the roof. Knowing this, we can continue with the voltage we need for the system. No headings were found on this page.