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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

What is Solar Power?

The sun’s energy is converted into thermal/ electrical energy. This type of energy is the cleanest and comes in large quantities all over the world. Solar technologies harness the sun’s energy converting it to multiple uses such as generating electricity, providing light, heating water for domestic, commercial, or industrial use. Solar energy can be built as distributed generation (located at or near the point of use) or as a utility-scale solar power plat (similar to traditional power plants). Both methods can also store energy they produce and distribute after the sun has set.

Distributed Generation

Distributed generation, also known as on-site generation or decentralized generation, supplies power for a specific building or facility.

Utility-Scale Solar Power Plant

A utility-scale solar power plant sells the power generated directly into the electrical grid instead of a specific facility.

What are the Benefits?

Renewable energy source
Reduces electricity bills
Diverse applications
Low maintenance costs
Technology development

What are the Drawbacks?

Cost
Weather dependent
Solar energy storage is expensive
Uses a lot of space
Associated with pollution (transportation and installation)
Toxic materials and hazardous products used during manufacturing of solar photovoltaic systems

How is it Harnessed?

Photovoltaics

Generates electricity directly from sunlight through an electronic process which can be used to power many objects/ items (e.g. calculators, road signs, homes, large commercial businesses, etc.)
“When sunlight strikes the photovoltaic (PV) module (made of a semi-conductor material) electrons are stripped from their atomic bonds. This flow of electrons produces an electric current. PV modules contain no moving parts and generally last thirty years or more with minimal maintenance.”

Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC)

Collects thermal energy from the sun and provides hot water and space heating and cooling for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Some ways to collect this energy is by flat plates, evacuated tube, Integral Collector Storage (ICS), thermosiphon and concentrating.

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)

Uses mirrors to concentrate the sun’s thermal energy to power a conventional steam turbine, creating electricity. The thermal energy created in the CSP plant can be stored and distributed when needed regardless of time of day. In the United States, over 1,400 MW of CSP plants are operational. CSP plants are normally located in places with access to the most intense direct sunlight and contiguous parcels of dry, flat land.