<P> Solar power is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), indirectly using concentrated solar power, or a combination . Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam . Photovoltaic cells convert light into an electric current using the photovoltaic effect . </P> <P> Photovoltaics were initially solely used as a source of electricity for small and medium - sized applications, from the calculator powered by a single solar cell to remote homes powered by an off - grid rooftop PV system . Commercial concentrated solar power plants were first developed in the 1980s . The 392 MW Ivanpah installation is the largest concentrating solar power plant in the world, located in the Mojave Desert of California . </P>

Two ways in which solar energy is generated