What one difference between using a solar cell for electricity and using mirrors or lenses to create electricity?

Answer 1

One difference is that the solar cell has no moving parts, while the mirror method (concentrated solar) has moving parts in its turbines.

Photoelectric Voltaic Cell (PV)

When the sun shines on a solar cell it knocks electrons loose from the atoms in the silicon cell. These electrons are captured in the form of an electric current, that is, electricity.

Concentrated Solar Collection

Mirrors and lenses focus the sun's heat onto a container of water, or salt. This extremely hot material is then used to spin electricity generators to produce electricity.

Answer 2

Using solar cells directly converts sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect, while using mirrors or lenses concentrates sunlight onto a receiver to produce heat that drives a turbine to generate electricity indirectly. Solar cells are more efficient at converting sunlight to electricity and can be used in smaller spaces, while mirrors and lenses require larger areas and more complex systems.