In an hour and a half, the amount of solar radiation that touches the Earth’s surface is enough to power the entire world’s energy usage for a year.Solar energy is also used for solar water heating and passive solar design for space heating and cooling. Besides this, newer solar energy technologies have also been developed to derive better advantages of solar energy.What is solar energy?Here are some important solar energy facts to help you understand the working of solar panels and solar cells:Solar energy is a significant source of renewable energy. Renewable Energy Sources (RES) generate energy from natural processes (such as the sun and wind) that replenish faster than they are consumed.On the other hand, renewable energy is energy that is derived from the natural environment’s constant energy flows.Renewable energy technologies have a lot of room for growth because they are globally distributed, unlike conventional energy sources (gas, coal, and oil), which are geographically concentrated. The advantages of renewable sources are that it reduces the severe impact on the environment by reducing the rate of emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide.The methods used in solar energy generation are generally characterized as passive or active solar, depending on how solar energy is collected, distributed, or converted to solar power. The system of photovoltaics, concerted solar power, and heating techniques by use of solar water are all examples of solar energy harvesting techniques.Solar energy is a very adaptable energy source installed as distributed generation or a utility-scale solar power plant. Solar energy systems are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Solar panels are being installed on rooftops across the United States, and businesses follow suit. Utilities construct massive solar power facilities to supply energy to all grid consumers.Using cutting-edge solar and storage technologies, both of these approaches may also store the energy they generate for delivery when the sun sets. Solar power operates inside a complex and interconnected electricity infrastructure in the United States, collaborating with other technologies such as wind power to help the country move to a clean energy economy.To guarantee that consumers and businesses have equal access to sustainable energy technologies like solar, many of these applications rely on supportive regulatory frameworks at the local, state, and federal levels.Benefits Of Solar EnergySolar power is undoubtedly the future of energy on Earth. Here are some important solar energy facts related to the benefits of using solar radiation for generating electricity:Reduces Air PollutionAlmost everyone knows that fossil fuels are the most significant source of pollution in modern times. A trip to California or China or any other location in the mountains or situated among the valleys would reveal that our air is polluted and toxic. It is a no-brainer to understand that this pollution is harmful to health, animals, the environment, and our entire ecosystem. One effective tool to curb pollution is to switch to the use of solar panels for electricity. Solar panels do not emit poisonous gases and generate clean energy, thus saving our environment from pollution.Each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of solar energy produced reduces carbon dioxide emissions and other harmful pollutants, including sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.Reduce Water UsageYour energy source is almost probably powered by some water if it isn’t driven by fossil fuels. Hydropower and nuclear energy both create electricity using a significant volume of water. Dams are commonly used to control water flow and generate electricity.The problem with dam water is that it has a tremendous impact on the local ecosystem. Solar panels generate energy without using water and without having a negative effect on the environment; per the reports of the US Office of ‘Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’ believes that solar energy systems can reduce the rate of consumption of water in as many as 36 states.Consumption in at least 36 states. This would aid in resolving the water scarcity problem that most of the world faces today.Cost SavingsGoing solar offers significant financial benefits in lower monthly energy bills. One can save a considerable amount of money from monthly expenses by using solar energy.Some of the factors that ought to be considered before making a final decision are:The total electricity units required.Dimensions of a solar energy system.Available installation space.Daily hours of direct sunlight in the area.Solar Works EverywhereThe United States is one of the most significant sources of solar energy in the world. In reality, the annual electrical demand in the United States is equal to one hour of the summer sun at midday. The majority of states in the US have good to exceptional solar resources. Even places with limited solar resources, such as the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, can save money and have solar resources comparable to countries with well-developed solar PV, such as Germany. Therefore, solar energy is very effective even in the remotest of areas. Self-contained solar systems could be deployed in those areas, improving the lives of millions of people. In addition, solar energy is used to power spacecraft and ships.Reduces Dependence On Nonrenewable Energy ResourcesMost people prefer solar energy because it does not pose any threat to the environment; thus, they can call themselves a friend of the environment. They do not have to depend upon others for the use of energy. Solar energy also helps reduce the rate of dependence on energies that are non-renewable, for example, fossil fuels. Solar energy has several other features that make it the best energy source.An ordinary person makes the most use of energy at a specific time period which ranges from 11:00 AM to 16:00 AM. This is mainly the working hour, and thus energy consumption reaches its zenith. At this very time, solar energy, generated from the sun, has maximum output capability. The electricity generated during the daytime has more demand and is more valuable than what is produced at night. The enhanced rate of electricity during the day can be reduced to a considerable extent by making use of solar energy.Anyone wishing to lower monthly power expenses while still making a low-risk, long-term investment can benefit from a solar electric system.Energy Production At Peak HoursSolar energy systems are equipped with devices to store electricity for usage at a later time. When solar panels are installed on a rooftop or a considerable expanse of land, then these panels receive maximum sunlight during the afternoon hours, usually from 11.00 AM to 4.00 PM. During this time, the energy production capacity of solar panels is at its highest. Hence, the electricity generated at this time is stored for usage at a later time.Types Of Solar EnergyHere are some essential solar energy facts related to different types of solar power generated through a solar panel array installed at solar farms:Earth receives sunlight from the sun and then converts this heat and light into solar energy. It is renewable, widely available, and clean, and it provides enough energy to cover the world’s annual energy needs. The ultimate requirement is to accumulate a portion of the heat and energy emitted by the sun.Once the energy is accumulated, the method through which solar energy gets converted into usable energy is the real trick. Several technologies are used to harness solar energy. The types of energy that it is converted are:Solar Thermal Energy: By capturing the sun’s energy to use it for heating houses, water, and swimming pools. Solar energy can be used to meet heating needs effectively. Solar thermal energy can be used to meet the human demands of conventional heating appliances. Many advancements in technology associated with solar energy have been made in recent years, making the entire procedure of energy accumulation and conversion more efficient and accessible. The solar thermal system is being reimagined thanks to new technologies that incorporate photovoltaic cells in it.Concentration Of Solar Power: Solar thermal energy is the kind of solar energy we use mainly for the production of electricity. It’s typically employed in production units spread over a mass scale, where mainly mirrors in the form of a curve or a flat mirror are spread out all over the place. The power plants generate electricity by converting sunlight into heat at a very high temperature. It is then directed through a traditional generator.The first portion of a concentrating solar plant captures the energy, transforming it into electricity. At the same time, the second half changes the energy into electricity that may be used to meet energy needs. Solar concentrators are only effective in direct sunlight. The mirror is mounted on a support that may rotate to follow the sun throughout the day, adding to the mirror’s complexity and cost. As a result, they are only employed in locations with a bright environment and many clear-sky days.Photovoltaic Solar Power: Solar energy is converted into electricity to generate energy. This generated electricity is then stored to be used at a later stage, as and when required. This change of solar energy into electricity is made possible by using photovoltaic cells. Semiconductors are used to transform light into electricity when it strikes a photovoltaic cell. A solar panel comprises multiple cells that produce direct current before being converted to alternating power with the help of an inverter.Solar panels can be used in tiny systems or colossal power plants to produce electricity from the sun, which is the most abundant renewable energy source on the planet. We can use photovoltaic power for solar energy, photovoltaic cooling, and solar lighting, among other solar applications. The cost of installation of photovoltaic solar power is more affordable and cheap.Photovoltaic solar provides power to regions without access to the electrical grid. As the cost of PV materials has decreased and the efficiency of PV materials has increased, governments (particularly those in Germany and China) have provided considerable support, resulting in a surge in solar deployment.Social Thermal: A solar thermal panel is nothing more than a black surface that absorbs light, heats up, and then transmits the heat to a working fluid. It comes in two varieties: unglazed and glazed. Glazed panels might be flat or constructed from a series of glass tubes. The working fluid transports heat to a beneficial location, such as a hot water storage tank, a swimming pool, or direct building space heating.Panels that are highly insulated, such as a glass cover above and thermal insulation beneath, do not require direct sunlight to operate and collect heat even if the weather is cloudy. Low-temperature applications, such as hot water for washing, space heating, feeding heat into district heating networks, and giving heat to industrial processes, are the most typical energy use.Fun Facts About Solar EnergySolar farms will generate more solar power in the coming days, thereby replacing fossil fuels as the primary electricity source. Here are some facts about solar power to help you understand how the technology will generate more energy in the future: -Solar energy is an entirely free source of energy that is available in plenty; the sun’s distance from the planet earth is approximately as far as 90 million miles, yet light travels over that distance in less than 10 minutes.Agriculture and horticulture both strive to make the most of solar energy. Techniques such as the timing of planting cycles and the mixing of plant kinds are examples of these. Greenhouses are also used to turn light into heat, allowing particular crops to be grown all year.China is the global leader in the generation of solar energy. China added 48.2 gigawatts (GW) of capacity in 2020, raising its total installed capacity to 253.4 GW. It now has a nearly 35% share of the global market. The country’s annual PV installations have climbed by 60% year on year by 2020, accounting for more than one-third of global deployment.In 1941, the first solar panel cell was created. The photovoltaic effect, or the capacity to generate an electric current from the sun’s rays, was discovered in 1839 by Alexandre Edmond Becquerel. The solar panel was invented for the first time by Russel Ohl in 1941, and Bell Laboratories released the first commercial panel in 1954.The Super Solar Impulse 2 became the first plane to fly worldwide only based on solar power.Solar panels are being used to charge hybrid electric school vehicles in a town in Wisconsin.Solar panels can be found on Google Maps. You can see the solar panels in your area on a map if you reside in San Francisco or Boston.The National Stadium in Taiwan is the world’s largest sports venue. The stadium holds over 9,000 solar panels, thus providing power to homes and businesses when it is not in use.Solar panels used in space receive power 24 hours a day, seven days a week, since every solar cell is constantly exposed to sunlight.Bell Laboratories is credited with creating the initial silicon solar cell in 1954. This creation is regarded as the precursor to the solar panel technology of present times.
In an hour and a half, the amount of solar radiation that touches the Earth’s surface is enough to power the entire world’s energy usage for a year.
