Final answer:
Solar panels create electricity from sunlight using the photoelectric effect in photovoltaic cells or by concentrating the sunlight to heat fluids in CSP systems, which then generate steam to produce electricity.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of solar power systems, thermal energy from sunlight causes a solar panel to create electricity through the process of the photoelectric effect in which photovoltaic cells convert light directly into electricity. Another method of converting solar energy into electricity is through Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems, which involve using mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver that heats a fluid. This heated fluid is then used to produce steam, which powers a turbine to generate electricity. Both photovoltaic cells and CSP technology harness the vast energy potential of sunlight in different ways to produce electrical energy.