How is solar power made?
Do you mean solar energy as in energy from the sun, or the electrical energy derived by one of any means by artificial or natural devices?
Whatever, I'll answer them all.
The sun is about 75% hydrogen(H) and 25% helium (He) which is the most common element in the universe consisting of a single proton(+) and one electron(-). This structure makes it highly reactive in that it is quite easy to share valence with other atoms. Under the right conditions, this atom is 'split' and produces massive amounts of energy and radiation. The sun is just such a conditioner, what with the mass (1.989x10^30Kg, approximate) and volume(1.44122x10^18 cubic kilometers). This produces a massive sustained thermonuclear reaction, dumping incredible amounts of radiation into the local solar system. In fact, all the elements (except hydrogen) are forged at the center of such a reaction. There isn't an atom in your body that wasn't made in the heart of some distant long-dead star!
Now bear with me. I told you that to tell you this. The amount of raw energy that the sun deposits on earth is about 1,368 watts per meter squared.(this is called the solar constant.) Keep in mind, that's on the very outer edge of the atmosphere. Much of it is in the ultraviolet spectrum and is filtered out by the ozone(O2).
There will be a test on this later, i hope you're taking notes.
Plants use this radiation to make energy for themselves by photosynthesis- they use the energy to decay organic carbon compounds into glucose.
Now how about the artificial means of using this energy? One of several ways. I'll talk about the two most common.
A Solar furnace can be used to boil a shitload of water and force the steam trough a generator, making electricity. Or you can make shit complicated by using a photovoltaic cell.
There are many different kinds of photovoltaic cell- Selenium base, noncrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and some sort of amorphous thing that i don't even-
I'm getting ahead of myself. Basically it takes a lot, i mean a LOT, of these cells to create any sort of meaningful power. The sunlight created a chemical reaction in the cells and the energy is converted into electricity.
I gotta go now, if there's anything i missed just ask.