How does solar power work?

Solar power works by converting energy from the sun into power. There are two forms of energy generated from the sun for our use – electricity and heat. Both are generated through the use of solar panels, which range in size from residential rooftops to ‘solar farms’ stretching over acres of rural land. Is solar power a clean energy source?

How is solar energy used?

Solar power is used in two main ways: generating electricity (like with rooftop solar panels) or generating thermal energy (like with concentrated solar power plants). For most homeowners, solar panels that convert solar energy to electricity are the best use of solar energy because it allows them to save on electric bills.

What are the basics of solar energy technology?

Learn solar energy technology basics: solar radiation, photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP), grid integration, and soft costs.

What is solar energy?

solar energy, radiation from the Sun capable of producing heat, causing chemical reactions, or generating electricity. The total amount of solar energy incident on Earth is vastly in excess of the world’s current and anticipated energy requirements.

How do you use energy from the Sun?

The two main ways to use energy from the sun are photovoltaics and solar thermal capture. Solar photovoltaic systems are common for smaller-scale electricity projects (like home solar panel installations ), while solar thermal capture is typically only used for electricity production on massive scales in utility solar installations.

How do solar panels convert solar energy into electricity?

Solar panels convert solar energy into usable electricity through a process known as the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect is a property of specific materials called semiconductors (nonmetals with conductive properties) that enables them to create an electric current when exposed to sunlight.