Solar Facts
The Science of Solar
Thanks to nuclear fusion on the Sun, every second about 600 million tons of hydrogen is transformed into helium, having 4 million tons of hydrogen transformed into energy as side effect.
.
Solar Production
U.S. saw significant growth to solar capacity in ’09
.
The United States is now fourth in the world in solar energy production, thanks in part to substantial growth that the industry witnessed in 2009.
.
A report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) noted that the U.S. had 481 megawatts of new solar electric capacity last year, trailing Japan, Italy and Germany, which led the world with 3,000 megawatts of new capacity.
.
The report added that the U.S. is also in fourth place in cumulative solar electric capacity, trailing Germany, Spain and Japan.
.
“Building off the successes of 2009, we expect 2010 to be a breakout year for the U.S. solar industry,” said SEIA president Rhone Resch. “The right policies and industry innovation continue to drive solar’s growth across America. Now we’re talking gigawatts of solar, not megawatts.”
.
In the United States, California led the nation with 220 megawatts of new solar electric capacity, followed by New Jersey (57 megawatts), Florida (36 megawatts) and Arizona (23 megawatts).
.
Even larger plants than exist today are proposed for construction in the coming years. Covering 4% of the world’s desert area with photovoltaics could supply the equivalent of all of the world’s electricity. The Gobi Desert alone could supply almost all of the world’s total electricity demand.
Source: US Energy Information Administration
.
History of the Photovoltaic Cell
The first practical photovoltaic (PV) cell was developed in 1954 by Bell Telephone researchers examining the sensitivity of a properly prepared silicon wafer to sunlight. Beginning in the late 1950s, PV cells were used to power U.S. space satellites. PV cells were next widely used for small consumer electronics like… Learn more
.
Photovoltaic (PV devices) or “solar cells” change sunlight directly into electricity. Individual PV cells are grouped into panels and arrays of panels that can be used in a wide range of applications ranging from single small cells that charge calculator and watch batteries, to systems that power single homes, to large power plants covering many acres.
Concentrating Solar Power Plants generate electricity by using the heat from solar thermal collectors to heat a fluid which produces steam that is used to power the generator. Out of the 11 known concentrating solar power generating units operating in the United States at the end of 2008, 9 of these are in California, 1 in Arizona, and 1 in Nevada.
Source: US Energy Information Administration
.
The photovoltaic cell is the basic building block of a photovoltaic system. Individual cells can vary in size from about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches across. However, one cell only produces 1 or 2 watts, which isn’t enough power for most applications.
To increase power output, cells are… Learn more
.
Types of Solar Thermal Power Plants
- Parabolic troughs are used in the largest solar power facility in the world located in the Mojave Desert at Kramer Junction, California.
- A solar dish/engine system uses concentrating solar collectors that track the sun, so they always point straight at the sun and concentrate the solar energy at the focal point of the dish.
- A solar power tower or central receiver generates electricity from sunlight by focusing concentrated solar energy on a tower-mounted heat exchanger (receiver).
Learn more about these three types
.
Using solar energy produces no air or water pollution and no greenhouse gases, but does have some indirect impacts on the environment… Learn more
.
Even larger plants than exist today are proposed for construction in the coming years. Covering 4% of the world’s desert area with photovoltaics could supply the equivalent of all of the world’s electricity. The Gobi Desert alone could supply almost all of the world’s total electricity demand.
Source: US Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_where
History of the Photovoltaic Cell
The first practical photovoltaic (PV) cell was developed in 1954 by Bell Telephone researchers examining the sensitivity of a properly prepared silicon wafer to sunlight. Beginning in the late 1950s, PV cells were used to power U.S. space satellites. PV cells were next widely used for small consumer
electronics like… Learn more
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_photovoltaics
Photovoltaic (PV devices) or “solar cells” change sunlight directly into electricity. Individual PV cells are grouped into panels and arrays of panels that can be used in a wide range of applications ranging from single small cells that charge calculator and watch batteries, to systems that power single homes, to large power plants covering many acres.
Source: US Energy Information Administration
Concentrating Solar Power Plants generate electricity by using the heat from solar thermal collectors to heat a fluid which produces steam that is used to power the generator. Out of the 11 known concentrating solar power generating units operating in the United States at the end of 2008, 9 of these are in California, 1 in Arizona, and 1 in Nevada.
Source: US Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_home
The photovoltaic cell is the basic building block of a photovoltaic system. Individual cells can vary in size from about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches across. However, one cell only produces 1 or 2 watts, which isn’t enough power for most applications.
To increase power output, cells are… Learn more
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_photovoltaics
Types of Solar Thermal Power Plants
Parabolic troughs are used in the largest solar power facility in the world located in the Mojave Desert at Kramer Junction, California.
A solar dish/engine system uses concentrating solar collectors that track the sun, so they always point straight at the sun and concentrate the solar energy at the focal point of the dish.
A solar power tower or central receiver generates electricity from sunlight by focusing concentrated solar energy on a tow
Even larger plants than exist today are proposed for construction in the coming years. Covering 4% of the world’s desert area with photovoltaics could supply the equivalent of all of the world’s electricity. The Gobi Desert alone could supply almost all of the world’s total electricity demand.
Source: US Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_where
History of the Photovoltaic Cell
The first practical photovoltaic (PV) cell was developed in 1954 by Bell Telephone researchers examining the sensitivity of a properly prepared silicon wafer to sunlight. Beginning in the late 1950s, PV cells were used to power U.S. space satellites. PV cells were next widely used for small consumer
electronics like… Learn more
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_photovoltaics
Photovoltaic (PV devices) or “solar cells” change sunlight directly into electricity. Individual PV cells are grouped into panels and arrays of panels that can be used in a wide range of applications ranging from single small cells that charge calculator and watch batteries, to systems that power single homes, to large power plants covering many acres.
Source: US Energy Information Administration
Concentrating Solar Power Plants generate electricity by using the heat from solar thermal collectors to heat a fluid which produces steam that is used to power the generator. Out of the 11 known concentrating solar power generating units operating in the United States at the end of 2008, 9 of these are in California, 1 in Arizona, and 1 in Nevada.
Source: US Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_home
The photovoltaic cell is the basic building block of a photovoltaic system. Individual cells can vary in size from about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches across. However, one cell only produces 1 or 2 watts, which isn’t enough power for most applications.
To increase power output, cells are… Learn more
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_photovoltaics
Types of Solar Thermal Power Plants
Parabolic troughs are used in the largest solar power facility in the world located in the Mojave Desert at Kramer Junction, California.
A solar dish/engine system uses concentrating solar collectors that track the sun, so they always point straight at the sun and concentrate the solar energy at the focal point of the dish.
A solar power tower or central receiver generates electricity from sunlight by focusing concentrated solar energy on a tower-mounted heat exchanger (receiver).
Learn more about these three types
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_thermal_power_plants
Using solar energy produces no air or water pollution and no greenhouse gases, but does have some indirect impacts on the environment… Learn more
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_environment
er-mounted heat exchanger (receiver).
Learn more about these three types
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_thermal_power_plants
Using solar energy produces no air or water pollution and no greenhouse gases, but does have some indirect impacts on the environment… Learn more
http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_environment