Photovoltaic power generation is based on light energy, not heat. The key component of this technology is the solar cell, which converts sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect a physical and electronic phenomenon. Solar thermal collectors are classified by the United States Energy Information Administration as low-, medium-. Solar thermal-electric power systems collect and concentrate sunlight to produce the high temperatures needed to generate electricity. All solar thermal power systems have solar energy collectors with two main components: reflectors (mirrors) that capture and focus sunlight onto a receiver. This isn't a thing of the future, either. The operating principle is similar to that of conventional steam power plants, with the key difference being the replacement of fossil fuels with concentrated solar radiation.
[PDF Version]