Light from the sun which strikes certain materials, such as silicon, causes electrons to increase their voltage. The solar cells act like batteries and can cause electricity to flow in a circuit.
Light from the sun striking black solar panels can be used to heat water about 15 degrees F above local air temperatures. This is usueful fpor heqating swimming pools or reducing the fuel or electrical requirments of hot water heaters.
Sunlight can also be concentrated with mirrors onto a small volume in such a way that heating of over 1000 degrees F occurs, so that a fluid inside (water or molten salt) can run a heat engine to produce electricity. Several demonstration projects are demonstrating this at various places, but in general the costs are too high for this to be practical.
I could provide you with many websites that explain these projects in greater detail, but you should be able to find them yourself with a search engine.
How does solar power work? How it is produced?
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