| Solar power electricity or green energy is when you | | | | once used almost exclusively in space, powering |
| generate electricity from sunlight. This can be done | | | | satellites' electrical systems, and is being increasingly |
| directly or indirectly. Using direct solar power involves | | | | used to provide auxiliary power in boats and cars. |
| only one step in transforming it to useable energy, | | | | Other uses include calculators, water pumps, parking |
| whereas indirect involves more steps. Direct means | | | | meters, and traffic signs just to name a few. |
| that sunlight directly hits an item and creates power. A | | | | Indirect solar power is when sunlight is part of, but not |
| photovoltaic cell or PV is used to convert sunlight into | | | | the direct cause of power, and more than one step is |
| electricity. The meaning of photovoltaic is electricity | | | | required to reach a usable energy. An example of |
| from sunlight (photo meaning "light" and voltaic meaning | | | | indirect solar power is a wind turbine. The sunlight |
| "electricity") PV cells are made of special materials | | | | creates weather patters which result in wind. The wind |
| called semiconductors, and when light strikes the cell, a | | | | turns blades that are connected to a generator that |
| certain portion of it is absorbed within the | | | | makes electricity. |
| semiconductor material. | | | | Others terms used when referring to solar power are |
| The energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the | | | | active and passive. Active power uses different |
| semiconductor and in the process manufactures | | | | equipment to capture the suns energy for use, while |
| electricity. There are many types of PV being used | | | | passive power uses the sunlight for energy without the |
| and tested to determine the most efficient. PV were | | | | use of other sources. |