Solar energy can be harnessed directly as well as indirectly which are as follows
(i) Direct utilisation The direct utilisation of solar energy can be done either by collecting it as heat (solar cooker, solar heater) or by converting it to electricity (solar cells).
(ii) Indirect utilisation It can be done by converting solar energy into chemical energy like bio-mass of plants, etc.
The limitations in using solar energy are as follows
(i) Energy reaching the surface is very much diffused so, direct utility is limited.
(ii) It is not available uniformly all the time and at all the places.
(iii) It is not available in night.
(iv) It is not available on a cloudy day.
These limitations of using solar energy are overcome by using solar cells that convert solar energy into electricity.
