How do you change solar energy to electricity?

Question

How do you change solar energy to electricity?

Answer 1

Yes, the photoelectric effect.  Silicon's electrons are normally tightly bound and unable to move away from the atoms but they become loose under certain conditions and then it can conduct electricity.  This is why it is called a semiconductor.

Silicon can be doped (which means to have impurities added) that have either an excess of electrons or a shortage of them.  Sunlight knocks electrons loose and they can then travel through a circuit.

The process is too complex to cover here; I have a photovoltaics FAQ section on my website (link below) that has very easy to follow explanations and diagrams of this principle.

Answer 2

Well large scale(power plants) is solar thermal which basically uses the heat of the sun to super heat air, boil water and turn a turbine. Small scale like a calculator or satelite uses a photovoltaic cell to convert the energy. It works By using basically a metal plate keyed to a certain frequency to trap and use electromagnetic radiation(light) and emit electrons which are the base of the power. its called the photoelctric effect if you wanted to look it up for a little more depth.

Answer 3

same way a rechargeable battery work.