Here is a selection of extraordinary solar power fun facts. People have used the sun as a heat source for thousands of years. It is only with the advances in technology that have taken place in recent years that have enabled us to fully harness this power.
Families in ancient Greece designed their homes to get the most sunlight during the chilly winter months. The ancient Greeks thought that the sun was the god Helios and he drove his chariot around the earth towards the sky in the morning and in the evening back again.
The invention of the photovoltaic effect is credited to the French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel in 1839.
In 1921 the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Albert Einstein for experiments with solar power and photovoltaics.
Back in 1955 The American Solar Energy Society held its first gathering in Phoenix and attracted the first Russian scientist to the US since the second World War. There is film footage showing early photovoltaics which was developed for NASA, solar cookers and solar heating panels.
The first solar flight occurred in 1974 in California by an unmanned plane which was put together by two brothers Roland and Bob Boucher.
In 1975 the first solar boat had been constructed in England and in 1996 Kenichi Horie from Japan made the first solar powered crossing on the Pacific Ocean using a catamaran.
The first World Solar Challenge took place in 1987. This is the solar-powered car race covering 3021 km through the Australian outback from Darwin to Adelaide.
Did you know it is possible to increase any solar power panel output by 75% simply by positioning a mirror that is about twice the size of the panel on the ground in front of the solar panel?
PV cells do not require direct sunshine to work - you can still generate some electric power on a cloudy day.
Solar electricity is a green, renewable energy that does not release any damaging carbon dioxide or other pollution. A typical home PV system can save around 1200kg of CO2 per year which is about 30 tonnes over a lifetime.
It is possible to store the electrical energy that your solar power system generates in batteries for a cloudy day.
You may sell any extra electricity that you generate using your solar power back to the power company making a bit of money.
It takes only about eight minutes for solar energy to travel from the sun to earth.
About 30% of the radiation we receive from the sun in the upper atmosphere is actually reflected back into space. The rest is absorbed by the clouds, oceans and also land masses on Earth. Yet even in these conditions, the power that our planet receives from merely one hour of sun exposure is equal to the amount of energy that humans use in an entire year.
Large scale solar projects which are being constructed world wide show that sun powered clean energy technologies are both achievable and lucrative. Solar power plants produce Megawatts (MW) with one MW being sufficient power to supply 1000 households. One of the largest solar energy projects which the world has ever seen is the "Desertec" plan to use the uninhabitable North African desert for a power grid of concentrated thermal electrical power stations that could supply Europe with all of its power requirements by the year 2050. So much progress in such a brief period of time let us all see where solar electricity will go from here.
Small Solar Panels For Small Scale Renewable Power
There has never been a better time to build a small solar panel, make a move to low carbon living and begin to save money on your electricity bills.
Solar Power Costs - What Everyone Should Really Know
There are 2 main factors that govern solar power cost and these are quite simply, the production cost of the solar panels and the installation cost of the solar system in your home.
Additional Power Just For Your Own Household
The trend toward homes that are powered by alternative energy sources, ranging from wind turbines and solar collection cells to hydrogen fuel cells and biomass gases, is one that needs to continue into the 21 st century and beyond.
Solar Power Deck LED Light Bulbs
A lot of folks are choosing to spend more time outdoors enjoying time on there decks, and at night they're in need of some kind of lighting. This night time light may be rendered by solar deck LED lights.
Enhance Your Open Air Space With Solar Outdoor LED Light Bulbs
You can find solar LED lights which have been made especially for the outside. These lights can exist through extreme weather conditions. There are also solar lights that feature vandal-proof panels. The actual fact that most of these are automatic also adds to their effectiveness.
Picking Out The Precise Solar Energy Panels For Your Place
Looking to find the best solar panels for your home? There are some ways to do this. Here, you will discover some great tips to finding the best solar panels for your home!
Sustainable Power In Ireland - Building An Environmentally Friendly Lifestyle
The Irish are currently pursuing energy independence and the further development of their robust economy through the implementation of research and development into alternative energy sources.
Alternative Energy Investments - The Shift From Standard To Efficient
The oil market is not the only market that's looking up. You'll find that alternative fuel stocks are also attracting many investors.