• Large scale photovoltaic arrays are based on solar energy.ULTRA.F/Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  Solar energy projects frequently convert the power of the sun into either electrical signals or concentrated heat via photovoltaic cells or glass which concentrates the sun's rays. Solar energy panels have continued to refine their capability to produce higher yields of electricity, while greenhouses allow individuals to grow food and plants in virtually any climate.
  
  

Greenhouses

• Greenhouses, also known as solar houses, work by trapping and magnifying the solar energy of the sun. Solar greenhouses traditionally feature a split design, where a glass paneled room provides year-round heat and a shaded room directly adjoining the glass paneled room uses the heat generated from this room to keep plants warm and growing. The glass paneled room should feature windows with an angled design to maximize sunlight exposure throughout the day. Different latitudes require different angles.
  
  

Solar Vehicles

• Despite years of work on the part of scientists and car manufacturers, solar energy has not been able to provide enough power to operate a traditional vehicle, primarily because the size of the solar panels required to generate this power would dwarf the vehicle. However, the idea of using solar energy to power a vehicle by converting the captured solar energy into an electric battery has led to a wave of electrically powered vehicles that do have commercial potential. As photovoltaic technology increases its yield, a smaller solar panel that could provide enough energy for the operation of a traditional vehicle may become practical.
  
  

Large Photovoltaic Arrays

• In an attempt to provide energy for cities, places such as California and Morocco have either proposed or set into action large scale photovoltaic solar panel projects that are capable of providing significant amounts of energy. These projects consist of several thousand solar panels placed in a desert, such as the Sahara and the Mojave, where they can absorb significant amounts of sunlight year-round. The energy generated from these projects is fed back into the electrical grid. Morocco has managed to produce about 6 percent of its energy from large scale solar arrays since 1998.