Solar Power

Solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells, were originally developed to provide electrical energy for space missions. The beauty of solar cells is that provided the Sun shines, they keep on producing free electricity.

At this location, we’ll look at how solar power works and why it is such an awesome sustainable resource!

Solar Energy Now!

Solar energy means using the energy of sunlight to provide electricity. Sunlight is a clean, renewable source of energy. It is a sustainable resource, meaning it doesn't run out, but can be maintained. Coal or gas generated electricity is not sustainable or renewable. Once they are gone, there is none left. More and more people want to use clean, renewable energy such as solar, wind and geothermal steam. Renewable energy is also called 'Green Power'.

How does solar work?

Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells directly convert sunlight into electricity. The simplest cells are used to operate wristwatches and calculators, and more complicated systems are used to light houses. PV cells are combined into modules called arrays, and the number of arrays used determines the amount of electricity produced. For example, a large number of arrays would be needed to generate electricity for a power plant.

Direct or Indirect

Sunlight can be converted directly into electricity using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly with concentrating solar power (CSP), which normally focuses the sun's energy to boil water, which is then used to provide power.

A home solar system is typically made up of solar panels, an inverter, a battery, a charge controller or regulator, wiring and support structure.

Solar Energy is measured in kilowatt-hours. 1 kilowatt = 1000 watts. When people buy fuel for their car, they charge by the gallon or litre. When you buy electricity, they charge you by the kilowatt-hour (kWh).

1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) = the amount of electricity required to burn a 100 watt light bulb for 10 hours. Households in some countries can use as much as 800-kilowatt hours per month.