Question: what are photovoltaics? and what do they do?

Jarvist Moore Frost answered on 12 Mar 2012:

Photovoltaics is the technical term for a solar cell. It’s because they convert Photons of sunlight into volts (electrical energy).

They are used lots where you need electricity in a remote place a long way from a mains circuit, such as on lighthouses and in space, and on houses a long way from cities and towns. We are also starting to use them in massive ‘arrays’ that produce power just like a little powerstation.