energy
Do solar panels use light or heat to generate electricity?
Confusion over the impact of heat and light on solar power starts with the fact that there are different types of solar power. One type of power, called solar thermal, uses the sun's light to generate heat, which can be used for things like household hot water or to generate steam to drive turbines and generate electricity. But those panels require complex integration with hot water systems to operate. The other type of solar power is generated by photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which use light to generate electricity directly. Many people think the most efficient place to generate power with ...
