Solar Electricity

NAVIGATION

Home

CLEAN AND ABUNDANT ELECTRICITY FOR THE FUTURE. LEARN ABOUT TECHNOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AND ADVANCES OF USING SOLAR POWER FOR ELECTRICITY

Solar Electricity- Everything from a pocket calculator, to a car, to your home can be powered by photovoltaics or solar electricity. It has been around for over fifty years. Only in the past decade has interest in this renewable form of power surged. With costs of traditional fuels rising, and with harmful emissions to our planet, solar energy can provide a solution to massive energy problems.

While strive for clean, cheap, and abundant it has not been reached for all, there is still a huge availability for millions of people worldwide. The good news is that many people are beginning to investigate and implement the use of solar energy in their homes and commercial buildings.

In larger solar power systems, solar energy is captured by photovoltaic modules. These PV modules generate direct current electricity. The direct current power generated by photovoltaics must then be converted into alternating current in order to use it in homes and businesses. This conversion occurs by using an inverter.

A solar cell is the smallest element that converts sunlight into electrical energy. Each cell is made of silicon. These cells generate an electrical flow when light shines on it. Solar modules are a series of solar cells wired together.

The keys to an efficient solar power system for the home are the location, the size of the modules, and the placement of the solar panels. Normally solar panels are placed on top of the roof.The optimum placement is a site located within 40 degrees of south with an ideal pitch placement of 30 degrees. Note this is the optimum placement. Other locations will produce solar power, but there may be a reduction in efficiency.

Here is a summary of how solar electricity is created and used. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. Wire conducts electricity to batteries. The batteries store electricity until it is needed.

As research and technology advances, the costs of installing solar systems will decrease. The availability for clean, affordable, and abundant energy looks bright.

Find out more How Does Solar Energy Work & discover solar energy myths.

Return from Solar Electricity to SolarEnergy SolarPower HOMEPAGE

WHAT IS SOLAR ENERGY? Solar energy (SE) is being used more and more to replace traditional forms of energy. The sun burns hydrogen at its core, thus releasing huge amounts of energy.	SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY Solar thermal panels have different classifications by the US Energy Information Agency; the three different classifications are low, medium and high temperature collectors.
SOLAR ENERGY HISTORY Today there is a renewed focus on solar energy. More people are recognizing the need and the advantage of solar power.	HOW IS SOLAR ENERGY IS USED? In the last decade, many new technologies have been adapted to help us take advantage of the massive power of the sun.
SOLAR ENERGY FOR HOMES STOPS HIGH POWER BILLS More and more people are realizing the benefits of solar energy for homes. Twenty years ago solar power cost seven times as much as it does today.	PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY Passive solar energy to put simply uses sunlight for energy without mechanical systems.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM Using solar energy systems for home use will reduce your energy bills for the life of the system.	ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY There are many advantages of solar energy, though solar energy is a fairly new source of renewable energy, it is a very clean way to produce energy in our energy demanding world.
THE FUTURE OF THE SOLAR ENERGY With costs of other sources of energy consistently becoming more and more expensive, the choice of using the sun’s “free” energy is becoming more and more mainstream.	PASSIVE AND ACTIVE SOLAR ENERGY Incorporating passive and active solar energy systems into new homes and building will save thousands on energy costs.
WHAT IS THE COST OF SOLAR ENERGY? With energy costs continuing to rise, more and more homeowners are considering the use of solar energy.	LEARN THE FACTS ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY Solar energy facts prove it is the best source of inexhaustible power.
PORTABLE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM Solar energy is becoming much more accepted as an alternative energy source to our traditional fossil fuels.	SOLAR ENERGY ADVANTAGES The most important advantage is that solar energy is a renewable source of energy. The sun will always be there, being we require the sun for our own life, if it wasn’t here we wouldn’t be here either, right.
INTER TIE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM This kind of solar energy system is becoming more and more popular due to the government incentives increasing, as well as the rising prices of natural gas and fossil fuels.	RESIDENTIAL SOLAR ENERGY This is an active way of using solar energy. Passive on the other hand is using large windows, heat conducting tiles, fans, trees, and other such devices to heat a home.
HOW DOES SOLAR ENERGY WORK There are many household items like calculators and outside lighting in use on a massive scale…and they all use solar energy.	OFF GRID PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS The batteries are for storing the energy not used during low periods of consumption. A system monitor will display battery charge, panel output, and system performance.
SOLAR ELECTRIC ENERGY Solar energy technologies such as heat and light from the sun, along with solar-based resources like wind and wave power, as well as hydroelectricity account for most of the available renewable sources of energy today.	GRID TIE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM A grid tied system can be configured two different ways. The first is to set up your system with solar panels with or without wind generators and connect them to a battery bank.
ON GRID SOLAR ENERGY Ongrid solar energy is by far the cheapest form when compared to off grid solar energy. By generating your own electricity you reduce your electrical bill and in some cases may generate money by running the meter backward.	SOLAR ENERGY ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Fossil fuels have an advantage in that they hold more readily released energy than a solar panel can collect. If you install a solar array on your house you most likely won’t bring it with you when you move.
LEARN ABOUT SEVEN MYTHS OF SOLAR ELECTRICITY As solar electricity gains in popularity and more people investigate its potential, there have come misunderstanding and myths. There are seven main myths about solar electricity that need to be dispelled.	HOW IS SOLAR ENERGY IS USED? The sun’s heat and light is one of the most powerful resources to touch the planet.
SOLAR ENERGY PANELS Solar energy panels are made of photovoltaic cells, can consist of tubes for heating water, or air heaters.