Solar power generation When there is light there is electricity

How is solar energy generated?

Solar energy - Electricity Generation: Solar radiation may be converted directly into solar power (electricity) by solar cells, or photovoltaic cells. In such cells, a small electric voltage is generated when light strikes the junction between a metal and a semiconductor (such as silicon) or the junction between two different semiconductors.

How can solar energy be converted into usable energy?

There are different ways of capturing solar radiation and converting it into usable energy. The methods use either active solar energy or passive solar energy. Active solar technologies use electrical or mechanical devices to actively convert solar energy into another form of energy, most often heat or electricity.

Can solar energy be used for electricity generation?

If interpreted without caution there is a tendency to conclude that significantly more energy is available to the Earth's surface in one year than the global electricity demand over an entire year. However not all of the solar energy available can be collected for electricity generation purposes.

What is solar energy?

Solar energy is any type of energy generated by the sun. Solar energy is created by nuclear fusion that takes place in the sun. Fusion occurs when protons of hydrogen atoms violently collide in the sun's core and fuse to create a helium atom. This process, known as a PP (proton-proton) chain reaction, emits an enormous amount of energy.