How Solar Works
The sun provides the energy for almost all life on earth, and we have been using its power for warmth, light and food for all of human history. Today, the term solar power most commonly refers to power generated when solar photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into electricity. Thus we focus in this section on providing basic information on how solar panels and solar cells work, as well as posting updates on new advances in solar technology.
What Are The Main Types of Solar Power Technology?
Solar power means more than solar panels. These days it can also mean collectors, towers, dyes, and more. Here’s a guide to (most of) the different kinds of solar technologies that are out there today. Anything that uses solar energy as a source of power is solar-powered. Simple, right? The sun gives us more than a whole spectrum of light, it also gives us heat. And both are used for a wide variety of applications, not just electricity.
What is a Solar Power Inverter?
When we think about “clean” energy, we envision big, dark solar panels out in a field or on a roof. Or maybe wind turbines with those big whooshing propellers. What we don’t often think about are the other components that make solar panels and other technologies possible and practical for everyday use. One very important component of these systems is the inverter. Inverters make it possible to hook your solar panels (or other energy dynamo) into batteries, your electrical system, and/or feed electricity back into the grid.
What is Solar Thermal Power?
What if you could produce clean solar energy night and day, rain or shine, and never hit the bank for a single P.V. solar panel? One fast-growing, cost-effective solar technology uses heat to generate energy 24 hours a day, and it can store energy without batteries. It’s called “Concentrated Solar Power” or C.S.P. The idea is simple; no complex chemistry or fancy silicon wafers required. Glorified mirrors shaped like satellite dishes (or parabolic troughs) direct the sun’s rays towards a reservoir. The concentrated solar heat boils water into steam, and steam powers a turbine.
Solar Energy History
You know that saying, “there’s nothing new under the sun?” Well, it’s true for solar energy too. Although the modern photovoltaic movement began over 165 years ago, the history of solar power actually began thousands of years earlier.
How Solar Systems Work
Learn about the main components of a solar electric system for your home, including solar modules, inverters, electrical panels, utility meters, and the utility grid.
News
Solar Thin Film Technology Attracts Big Players in Japan
National Renewable Energy Lab Sets Record for Solar Cell Efficiency
Chipmakers’ Competition Could Reduce Cost of Solar Panels
Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) Solar Cell wins R&D 100 Award
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Could Boost Solar Efficiency by 50%
The Future of Solar Energy: An Interview with John Sedgwick
Tour and Photos of Thin-Film Solar Panel Installation
New Solar Power Trends at Solar 2008 Conference in San Diego
Improved Production Process for Thin Film Solar at Colorado State University
