Generation of Electricity from Sunlight

The heat from the sun can be used to generate electricity in two different ways. The most common method is "direct conversion" using "Photovoltaic" arrays, called PV arrays or solar cells.

The lesser used approach is to use a solar hot water collector to gather the heat needed to drive a conventional thermodynamic cycle much like a steam engine. Commercial units of this sort are available from Sun Therm.

The biggest advantage of PV is the lack of moving parts. A PV array is an install once, and more or less forget about it type of technology. Machines with moving parts, no matter how well designed and constructed, will require some amount of ongoing maintenance. Solar arrays typically do not. Ah, but what cost reliability? PV, while having the lowest operating cost, has the highest initial cost of all known methods of power production.

It is important to know how to size a PV system because the cost is so high and the energy input (sunlight) so variable.