Great question, and this shows why we could never get a 100% efficient solar panel. Otherwise your scheme would brak thermodynamics.
The most efficient possible way to convert sunlight to electricity is ~86% and is related to the second law of thermodynamics. So we use the heat flow from a hot reservoir (sun) to a cold reservoir (earth) and are able to convert some of that heat into work (electricity) which can then be used to heat something else to a higher temperature without breaking the second law.
Comments
Great question, and this shows why we could never get a 100% efficient solar panel. Otherwise your scheme would brak thermodynamics.
The most efficient possible way to convert sunlight to electricity is ~86% and is related to the second law of thermodynamics. So we use the heat flow from a hot reservoir (sun) to a cold reservoir (earth) and are able to convert some of that heat into work (electricity) which can then be used to heat something else to a higher temperature without breaking the second law.