Conversion

• Certain materials such as silicon convert solar energy into electricity when light strikes the substance. Electrical energy created from this process is harnessed and used for power.
  
  

Silicon

• Silicon is one of the best substances to use in order to create light electricity. Electrical current is produced when light comes in contact with silicon.
  
  

Photovoltaic Cells

• Photovoltaic cells are the building blocks for solar panels. These cells are designed with silicon, and are situated on each solar panel. Once they cover the panel, then it is ready to be used to absorb solar energy.
  
  

Solar Thermal System

• Solar plants not only use photovoltaic energy to create electricity, but they can also be set up to utilize a solar thermal system. Solar thermal plants employ large mirrors to reflect heated sunlight toward pipes that hold water. Steam that is created from this process turns electric turbines, which produce electrical energy.
  
  

Arrays

• Solar plants are usually a part of a solar collecting system. They receive energy from arrays--a linked collection--of photovoltaic panels. Solar thermal plants are connected to a "solar field" of mirrors, which are solar farms. Once this energy is received from either system, it is sent to consumers who are located within a specific grid.