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GCSE Combined Science · key term
A device that uses light to generate electricity, also called a photovoltaic cell.
Used by AQA and OCR
Specification 4.8.2.4 · Paper 3, Paper 4
Revise: Energy ResourcesFuels can be burned to provide heating, moving water and wind can turn turbines, and sunlight can generate electricity directly in solar cells. Choosing a resource therefore involves more than deciding how much energy it can supply: we also need to consider when it is available, its cost and its environmental effects.
Physics, Combined Science
A device that transfers energy from sunlight directly to an electrical output.
Distinguish solar cells, which generate electricity, from solar heating panels, which heat water.
When comparing electricity generation, identify both the shared stages and what drives the turbine. Solar cells are an exception: they do not use a turbine or generator.
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Solar cells transfer energy from sunlight directly to an electrical output. There is no turbine, steam or generator in this process. Cells can be combined into panels on buildings or into large solar farms.
