Features

• Heat from the sun can be used to generate mechanical energy when the heat is concentrated and directed toward water. When this water becomes hot enough, it turns to steam. This steam is then used to turn turbines. When the turbines turn, magnets attached to the turbines spin, producing electricity.
  
  

Considerations

• Alternately, solar power can be captured in photovoltaic panels, which store the sun's heat and light in the form of electrically charged batteries. These batteries can then be used to power machines capable of producing mechanical energy. This method is less efficient than the former.
  
  

Benefits

• Mechanical energy generated from solar power has two main benefits. It is infinitely renewable and generates almost no pollution. Whereas traditional sources of electricity require the combustion of a finite fossil fuel that produces pollution, solar power is virtually unlimited--at least during sunny weather--and produces no emissions other than steam.