Solar power, also known as solar electrical

Solar power, also known as solar electricity, is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar power. Solar panels use the photovoltaic effect to convert light into an electric current.[2] Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and solar tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight to a hot spot, often to drive a steam turbine.

Photovoltaics (PV) were initially solely used as a source of electricity for small and medium-sized applications, from the calculator powered by a single solar cell to remote homes powered by an off-grid rooftop PV system. Commercial concentrated solar power plants were first developed in the 1980s. Since then, as the cost of solar panels has fallen, grid-connected solar PV systems' capacity and production has doubled about every three years. Three-quarters of new generation capacity is solar,[3] with both millions of rooftop installations and gigawatt-scale photovoltaic power stations continuing to be built.

In 2023, solar power generated 5.5% (1,631 TWh) of global electricity and over 1% of primary energy, adding twice as much new electricity as coal.[4][5] Along with onshore wind power, utility-scale solar is the source with the cheapest levelised cost of electricity for new installations in most countries.[6][7] As of 2023, 33 countries generated more than a tenth of their electricity from solar, with China making up more than half of solar growth.[8] Almost half the solar power installed in 2022 was mounted on rooftops.[9]

Much more low-carbon power is needed for electrification and to limit climate change.[3] The International Energy Agency said in 2022 that more effort was needed for grid integration and the mitigation of policy, regulation and financing challenges.[10] Nevertheless solar may greatly cut the cost of energy.[5]

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Geography affects solar energy potential because different locations receive different amounts of solar radiation. In particular, with some variations, areas that are closer to the equator generally receive higher amounts of solar radiation. However, solar panels that can follow the position of the Sun can significantly increase the solar energy potential in areas that are farther from the equator.[11] Daytime cloud cover can reduce the light available for solar cells. Land availability also has a large effect on the available solar energy.Concentrated solar power (CSP), also called "concentrated solar thermal", uses lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to concentrate sunlight, then uses the resulting heat to generate electricity from conventional steam-driven turbines.[32]

A wide range of concentrating technologies exists.

1. Solar Power http://io9.com/379226/a-solar+powered-death-ray Kim Grant Solar Tower PS10, near Seville, Spain

2. How Solar Power Works Photovoltaic Cells Energy in the light is absorbed by the material and electrons bounce off. This gives them a higher state of energy, producing an electric current. Currently PV cells include : Monocrystalline silicon Polycrystalline silicon Microcrystalline silicon Cadmium telluride Copper indium selenide or sulfide

3. How Solar Power Works Concentrated Solar Power A Heliostat system directs sunlight to a central tube which contains a medium, such as molten salt This circulates and heats water into steam

4. Still, how it works More Concentrated Solar Power Large scale conductor Small scale conductor

5. Research http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell

6. Benefits Powered by the Sun Zero emissions Little maintenance once installed Can last a lifetime For every $mill. Invested, 5-15 jobs are created http://www.psy.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka/sun.jpg

7. Downsides Expensive to install initially Doesn’t work at night Hard to store the energy (can use batteries) Large scale production takes space Isn't completely efficient, doesn't utilize all of the sun's energy... yet

8. So, why solar power? With the amount of solar energy the planet receives we have the potential to provide at least 1,000 times the energy consumed globally. (in 2008) On a sunny day the sun gives off 1,000 watts of energy to the earths surface per square meter Sunlight is infinite, unlike many of our other energy sources

9. Current Usage PV Power Plants Spain has the top two plants (both built in 2008) Portugal is next, followed by Germany Spain has four more plants US is next on the list, the plant was finished Oct, 2009 Concentrated Solar Power Stations Top three stations are in the US (all parabolic troughs) Next three are in Spain PV plant in Andalusia, Spain http://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin/solar-report_0509_e_3.html

10. Germany and Solar Power Accounted for half of the global solar power usage in 2007 Waldpolenz Solar Park 40,000 MW-h /year In 2006 passed a feed-in tariff. Utilities paid customers for the power they would feed into the grid if they installed solar panels Achieved 8.3 GW by 2009 Germany is reducing the subsidy amount though

11. Works Cited http://io9.com/379226/a-solar+powered-death-ray http://www.petervaldivia.com/technology/energy/solar-power.php http://www.solarhome.org/infoadvantagesofsolarpower.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycrystalline_silicon http://www.statesadvancingsolar.org/solar-101/benefits-of-solar