Solar Power Facts
A solar turbine is a device that uses the sun’s energy to create electricity.
Is a solar power system that uses an outside force, to power a solar power system. A common active solar power system is a solar power water heater that uses an electric water pump to power the system.
Is a solar power system that does not need an outside source of energy besides the sun to operate. Passive solar power systems are used often in the blueprints of home building for designing strategically placed walls and windows to take advantage of the sun’s heat.
Photovoltaic solar panels use a combination of silicon doped impurities to push electrons towards an electric current after a solar panel absorbs a photon of light from the sun.
Is a technique that uses a system of mirrors to reflect the heat from sunlight towards a single focal point. This point of intense heat can then be used to heat water into steam, which can be converted into electricity using a steam turbine generator.
Is when the sun’s energy is converted into electricity from outer space, to either be used in outer space or back on earth.
Solar water heater’s are a popular item to find in homes today. These systems can use either concentrated solar power or photovoltaic panels to heat water.
Solar panels have an optimum tilt angle that changes with the changing seasons. As the season’s change the path of the sun through the sky will change, getting increasingly drastic towards the poles.
9. Solar South
Solar panel systems in the Northern Hemisphere should face solar south to operate more efficiently.
There are three main techniques for solar panel mounting: tracking mounts, ground mounts, and roof mounts.
Ancient solar energy history mostly involves using a reflective surface to harness the sun’s heat in order to start a fire. The photovoltaic effect was not invented until the 1800s.
12. Environmental Impact of Solar Energy
Photovoltaic solar panels and concentrated solar panels systems release no pollutants into the atmosphere during the conversion process. Unfortunately solar panel manufacturing causes large amounts of pollution.
13. Advantages of Solar Power Systems
The single greatest advantage of solar power is that the sun is an extremely powerful source of renewable energy.
The cost of solar power depends on the size and scale of the system, but the initial cost of installing a solar power system for a home or business in very high. The return of investment of installing a solar power system comes with time.
The federal government offers up to a 30% tax rebate on qualifying solar power systems.