In addition, this energy is available 24 hours a day - not possible here on earth. To give you an idea of the process of utilizing solar energy, see the solar window box. While this process will not work in space, it can be adapted to do so, and the project is something which you can build from stuff you probably already have out in your garage. The basic process behind the workings of the solar window box are also those things which make wind and hydro-electric power work. The sun bathes the earth in energy, which in turn drives the winds, and causes water to evaporate from the oceans.
Windmills capture the solar energy stored in the wind by using large blades which turn a generator.
PV cells generate electricity directly from the sun. There are more details about PV's in the electronics setion of this spin.