Where is Solar Energy found?
Solar Energy Is Everywhere the Sun Shines
Solar energy is by far the Earth's most available energy source. Solar power is capable of providing many times the total current energy demand. But it is an intermittent energy source, meaning that it is not available at all times. However, it can be supplemented by thermal energy storage or another energy source, such as natural gas or hydropower.
Solar energy is by far the Earth's most available energy source. Solar power is capable of providing many times the total current energy demand. But it is an intermittent energy source, meaning that it is not available at all times. However, it can be supplemented by thermal energy storage or another energy source, such as natural gas or hydropower.
Solar Power Can Be Used Almost Anywhere
Low-temperature solar collectors also absorb the sun's heat energy, but instead of making electricity, use the heat directly for hot water or space heating in homes, offices, and other buildings.
Even larger plants than exist today are proposed for construction in the coming years. Covering 4% of the world's desert area with photovoltaics could supply the equivalent of all of the world's electricity. The Gobi Desert alone could supply almost all of the world's total electricity demand.
Even larger plants than exist today are proposed for construction in the coming years. Covering 4% of the world's desert area with photovoltaics could supply the equivalent of all of the world's electricity. The Gobi Desert alone could supply almost all of the world's total electricity demand.
Photovoltaic Systems Provide Small to Large Amounts of Power
Another solar generating technology uses photovoltaic cells (PV) to convert sunlight directly into electricity. PV cells are made of semiconductors, such as crystalline silicon or various thin-film materials. Photovoltaics can provide tiny amounts of power for watches, large amounts for the electric grid, and everything in between.
Thousands of houses and buildings around the world have PV systems on their roofs. Many multi-megawatt (MW) PV power plants have also been built. The largest, at the end of 2010, was a 97 MW facility in Ontario, Canada, and the largest PV power plant in the U.S. was a 48 MW facility in Nevada. A 210 MW plant is planned for California.rAnother solar generating technology uses photovoltaic cells (PV) to convert sunlight directly into electricity. PV cells are made of semiconductors, such as crystalline silicon or various thin-film materials. Photovoltaics can provide tiny amounts of power for watches, large amounts for the electric grid, and everything in between.
Thousands of houses and buildings around the world have PV systems on their roofs. Many multi-megawatt (MW) PV power plants have also been built. The largest, at the end of 2010, was a 97 MW facility in Ontario, Canada, and the largest PV power plant in the U.S. was a 48 MW facility in Nevada. A 210 MW plant is planned for California.
Thousands of houses and buildings around the world have PV systems on their roofs. Many multi-megawatt (MW) PV power plants have also been built. The largest, at the end of 2010, was a 97 MW facility in Ontario, Canada, and the largest PV power plant in the U.S. was a 48 MW facility in Nevada. A 210 MW plant is planned for California.rAnother solar generating technology uses photovoltaic cells (PV) to convert sunlight directly into electricity. PV cells are made of semiconductors, such as crystalline silicon or various thin-film materials. Photovoltaics can provide tiny amounts of power for watches, large amounts for the electric grid, and everything in between.
Thousands of houses and buildings around the world have PV systems on their roofs. Many multi-megawatt (MW) PV power plants have also been built. The largest, at the end of 2010, was a 97 MW facility in Ontario, Canada, and the largest PV power plant in the U.S. was a 48 MW facility in Nevada. A 210 MW plant is planned for California.
California's Solar Fame
California Has the World’s Biggest Solar Thermal Power PlantsNine solar power plants, in three locations in California's Mojave Desert, comprise the Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS). SEGS VIII and IX (each 80 megawatts), located in Harper Lake, are, individually and collectively, the largest solar thermal power generating plants in the world. The SEGS plants are concentrating solar thermal plants.
Concentrating solar power technologies use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect the solar energy and convert it to heat. This thermal energy can then be used to produce electricity via a steam turbine or heat engine driving a generator.
Concentrating solar power technologies use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect the solar energy and convert it to heat. This thermal energy can then be used to produce electricity via a steam turbine or heat engine driving a generator.