Photovoltaic

photovoltaic – the term used to qualify the natural phenomenon (the photovoltaic effect), and technical devices, units and systems using it (photovoltaic cells, modules, panels, arrays, systems, power stations), of converting the energy of the light in electric energy. The basic device using the effect is the photovoltaic solar cell or simply solar cell. The term is specifically used to distinguish between the to main solar technologies to convert solar (light) energy in to electricity – photovoltaic and thermal. Basically if we have to classify we have solar energy technologies in general not necessarily converting the light energy to electricity (like to heat etc.) so the general term inclusive of all should be solar energy or solar power technologies. The ones converting the light energy to electricity should be referred to as solar electric and solar electric on its turn can be photovoltaic (solar to electricity directly through the photovoltaic effect) or solar thermal where the light energy is first used to heat a transfer fluid, usually oil or other substance appropriate for the use, to temporarily store the energy as heat, then the transfer fluid is being driven through a thermal electric generation plant (usually steam turbine) to generate electricity.
Real life examples of usage of the term:
“… Photovoltaic technology makes use of the abundant energy in the sun …”