SOLAR ENERGY

How Does Solar Work?

The amount of sunlight that strikes the earth's surface in an hour and a half is

enough to handle the entire world's energy consumption for a full year. Solar

technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy either through photovoltaic

(PV) panels or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. This energy can

be used to generate electricity or be stored in batteries or thermal storage.

Solar Energy 101

Solar radiation is light – also known as electromagnetic radiation – that is emitted

by the sun. While every location on Earth receives some sunlight over a year, the

amount of solar radiation that reaches any one spot on the Earth’s surface

varies. Solar technologies capture this radiation and turn it into useful forms of

energy.

There are two main types of solar energy technologies—photovoltaics (PV)

and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP). 

Photovoltaics Basics

You're likely most familiar with PV, which is utilized in solar panels. When the sun

shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV cells in

the panel. This energy creates electrical charges that move in response to an

internal electrical field in the cell, causing electricity to flow.

Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Basics

Concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) systems use mirrors to reflect and

concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect solar energy and convert it to

heat, which can then be used to produce electricity or stored for later use. It is

used primarily in very large power plants.

Systems Integration Basics

Solar energy technology doesn’t end with electricity generation by PV or CSP

systems. These solar energy systems must be integrated into homes,

businesses, and existing electrical grids with varying mixtures of traditional and

other renewable energy sources.

Soft Costs Basics

Several non-hardware costs, known as soft costs, also impact the cost of solar

energy. These costs include permitting, financing, and installing solar, as well as

the expenses solar companies incur to acquire new customers, pay suppliers,

and cover their bottom line. For rooftop solar energy systems, soft costs

represent the largest share of total costs.

Going Solar Basics

Solar energy can help to reduce the cost of electricity, contribute to a resilient

electrical grid, create jobs, and spur economic growth, generate back-up power

for nighttime and outages when paired with storage, and operate at similar

efficiency on both small and large scales.

Solar Industry Basics

Solar energy systems come in all shapes and sizes. Residential systems are

found on rooftops across the United States, and businesses are also opting to

install solar panels. Utilities, too, are building large solar power plants to provide

energy to all customers connected to the grid.