Right now, Solar energy hasn't reached its full heights of producing power that we feel it can in the future. It also is very costly and due to the expanses isn't worth using yet unless the costs come down or the power is maximized as the best source of energy for the Earth.
The main source of the world's energy is the sun. While many technologies derive fuel from one form of solar energy or another, there are also technologies that directly transform the sun's energy into electricity. Since generating electricity directly from sunlight does not reduce any of the earth's natural resources and supplies the earth with energy continuously. Solar energy is a renewable source of electricity generation. Solar energy is our earth's primary source of renewable energy. There are two different approaches to generate electricity from the sun: photovoltaic (PV) and solar-thermal technologies. PV, like a fuel cell, depends upon chemical reactions to generate electricity. PV cells are tiny, square shaped semiconductors manufactured in skinny film layers from silicon and other conductive materials. When sunlight hits the PV cell, chemical reactions let go electrons, making an electric current. The little current from individual PV cells, which are installed in modules, can power individual homes and businesses or can be put into the bulk electricity grid. Solar-thermal technologies are, mostly like, a traditional electricity generating technology. They use the sun's heat to generate steam to run an electric generator. Parabolic trough systems, like those functioning in southern California, use reflectors to focus sunlight to heat oil, which in turn generates steam to drive a standard turbine. Two other solar-thermal technologies are closing to commercial status. Parabolic dish systems, focuses sunlight, to then heat gaseous hydrogen, helium or liquid sodium. This will then generate pressurized gas or steam to run a turbine to create the electricity. Central receiver systems highlight mirrors that reflect sunlight on to a bigger tower packed with fluid that when heated generates steam to run a turbine.
Even with the high costs of solar energy it would be a better source of energy than most people think. If we could maximize the suns energy it would save us more in the long run with the sources of energy we are using now. However for this moment it is being used by people who have the money to use it.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/energy-environment/solar-energy/index.html?scp=3&sq=solar%20panels&st=cse
