The different approaches to the generation of power from solar energy may be roughly divided into five categories: distributed collectors; central receivers; biomass; ocean thermal energy conversion; and photovoltaic devices. The first approach (distributed collectors) is the subject of this module. The material presented is designed to familiarize students with: the breakdown of solar radiation into its direct and diffuse components; selected elementary principles of optics; the operation of two important solar thermal electric schemes--the central receiver and the distributed collector approach; several ways in which heat can be stored; and why there is a fundamental limitation upon the conversion of thermal energy to useful work. The module is divided into four sections with two appendices. Sections consist of: (1) an introduction; (2) discussions of solar radiation; (3) discussion of concentrating collector systems; and (4) conclusions which focus on the physical/economic limitations of solar thermal electric power generation. Reviews of elementary optic principles and heat/thermodynamics are presented in the two appendices. Two experiments (measurement of the direct component with a solar cell and set up of a long, linear concentrating collector to evaluate its concentration factor) and question/problem sets are included. (JN)