Then the steam turns a turbine which turns a generator that makes electricity. Places like the southern United States get lots of sunlight, so they could use it to make a lot of their electricity. It doesn't pollute. Places like Alaska that don't get much sunlight for half the year wouldn't be able to use this very much. Let's look at some ways the sun can be used to heat water and produce electricity.
Many homes use solar water heaters.
They heat water for use inside homes and businesses. They also heat swimming pools. Panels on the roof of a building contain water pipes. When the sun hits the panels and the pipes, the sunlight warms them. A common collector is called a flat-plate collector, and is usually mounted on the roof.