For rooftop solar energy systems, soft costs represent the largest share of total costs. 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 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. Learn more about the innovative research the Solar Energy Technologies Office is doing in these areas. In addition to this basic information about solar energy, you can find more solar energy information resources here.
Solar Energy Solar radiation is light — also known as electromagnetic radiation — that is emitted by the sun. The modern solar cell is likely an image most people would recognise — they are in the panels installed on houses and in calculators.
Today, PV is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy technologies, and is ready to play a major role in the future global electricity generation mix. Solar PV installations can be combined to provide electricity on a commercial scale, or arranged in smaller configurations for mini-grids or personal use.
Using solar PV to power mini-grids is an excellent way to bring electricity access to people who do not live near power transmission lines, particularly in developing countries with excellent solar energy resources. The cost of manufacturing solar panels has plummeted dramatically in the last decade, making them not only affordable but often the cheapest form of electricity.
Solar panels have a lifespan of roughly 30 years, and come in variety of shades depending on the type of material used in manufacturing. Concentrated solar power CSP , uses mirrors to concentrate solar rays. Other uses for solar energy include utility scale solar PV farms that can generate enough electricity to power entire cities.
An even more efficient solar technology is concentrated solar power CSP. That thermal energy may be stored before powering a generator, which makes it a more flexible source of electricity than solar PV. Uses for solar energy extend to water heating systems. Most solar water heating solutions create hot water that is consumed inside the home. Solar water heaters usually have a five to ten year payback according to the U. Department of Energy DOE. Another application of solar energy, especially in the southern and southwestern U.
Water is circulated to a collector where it is heated by sunlight and then pumped back into the pool. Typical uses of solar space heating systems include powering radiant floors or pairing with a Forced Hot Air FHA system to heat a home.
Passive solar home design can also heat homes and businesses in the winter by taking into consideration the placement of windows and the selection of materials used in the building. Solar ventilation solutions such as solar attic fans can reduce the burden of your HVAC by helping to cool your home during the summer. Though solar lights are not yet as common as solar panels, they are quickly joining the likes of LED lightbulbs and smart home thermostats as a cheap product that can reduce electric bills and improve the efficiency of your home.
Additionally, the aesthetic of modern solar lighting can significantly improve the outdoor decor of a property. Solar space heaters harness sunlight and convert it into thermal energy with the use of liquid or air as a medium, while solar water heaters use water as a method for thermal transfer. These solar heating systems can either be passive or active — while passive systems utilize natural circulation, active systems use pumps to circulate water and generate heat.
Homeowners who install a thermal solar array on their roof can expect 5 to 10 percent returns with a system that costs a fraction of a full solar panel installation.
A major benefit of solar thermal technology is the ability to heat your pool at a more cost-effective rate than conventional alternatives such as oil and gas pumps. According to the U. At its simplest, the technology uses a solar collector that harnesses sunlight and converts it into heat.
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