Solar Power - Alternative Energy

Time to shine: Solar power is fastest-growing source of new energy Solar power was the fastest-growing source of new energy worldwide last year, outstripping the growth in all other forms of power generation for the first time and leading experts to hail a “new era”. Renewable energy accounted for two-thirds of new power added to the world’s grids in 2016, the International Energy Agency said, but the group found solar was the technology that shone brightest. New solar capacity even overtook the net growth in coal, previously the biggest new source of power generation. The shift was driven by falling prices and government policies, particularly in China, which accounted for almost half the solar panels installed. The Paris-based IEA predicted that solar would dominate future growth, with global capacity in five years’ time expected to be greater than the current combined total power capacity of India and Japan. Dr Fatih Birol, the executive director of the IEA, said: “What we are witnessing is the birth of a new era in solar photovoltaics [PV].

Solar Power Information and Facts Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun's energy and make it useable. As of 2011, the technology produced less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand. Many are familiar with so-called photovoltaic cells, or solar panels, found on things like spacecraft, rooftops, and handheld calculators. The cells are made of semiconductor materials like those found in computer chips.

Solar Power: How to Compare Costs and Benefits With residential solar installations increasing 51% between 2013 and 2014, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, there’s no question that American homeowners are welcoming the sunshine. It’s partly mindset: At every level — individual, state, federal — renewable energy sources are seen as an attractive solution to environmental and economic challenges. Many states have mandates set by their legislatures with a target amount of energy that must come from renewable sources every year, but the local utility may not have the capital to create large solar-harvesting photovoltaic (PV) arrays to generate the power — so houses have become the tiny power stations that can help the state achieve its renewable energy goals. That’s good news for homeowners. Even more importantly, the price of a completed residential PV system has dropped 45% since 2010, largely because of new, widely available financing and leasing options.

Solar Grew Faster Than All Other Forms of Power for the First Time - Bloomberg Solar power grew faster than any other source of fuel for the first time in 2016, the International Energy Agency said in a report suggesting the technology will dominate renewables in the years ahead. The institution established after the first major oil crisis in 1973 said 165 gigawatts of renewables were completed last year, which was two-thirds of the net expansion in electricity supply. Solar powered by photovoltaics, or PVs, grew by 50 percent, with almost half of new plants built in China. “What we are witnessing is the birth of a new era in solar PV,” Fatih Birol, executive director of the IEA, said in a statement accompanying the report published on Wednesday in Paris. “We expect that solar PV capacity growth will be higher than any other renewable technology through 2022.” This marks the sixth consecutive year that clean energy has set records for installations.

Advantages of solar energy for your home Why consume energy when you can generate energy? With a SolarWorld solar system, you can: Save money now! Solar power Solar power (also knows as solar radiation or insolation) is energy from the sun. This energy, in the form of heat and light, supports all life on Earth, drives the Earth's climate and weather and is predominately responsible for the class of resources collectively known as renewable energy. Solar energy also broadly describes technologies that utilize sunlight. Solar power a clear leader, IEA report finds Oct. 4 (UPI) -- For the first time ever, there were more grid additions from solar power than another other type of fuel, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said that, by 2022, renewables in general will equal about half the global capacity for coal power and its solar energy in particular that's leading the way. "What we are witnessing is the birth of a new era in solar PV [systems]," he said in a statement.

Solar Panels About Solar Panels Your heart begins to pound as the lights in your RV cut out, until you remember you have a backup generator. With a portable solar power generator, you no longer have to worry about losing power on the road. Unlike gas generators, they come with fewer odors, less hassle, and a reduced risk of explosion. Featuring solar panels that attach to the top or the side, these generators absorb the sun's rays and then converts them into electricity. Wind Energy Basics Basic information on wind energy and wind power technology, resources, and issues of concern. Wind Energy and Wind Power Wind is a form of solar energy. How PV Cells Work Solar Power is energy from the sun. Introduction How it Works Advantages Disadvantages Is it Renewable? The sun has been used for drying clothes and growing food for thousands of years, but only recently has the sun been used for solar power.

Wind Power Information and Facts Wind is the movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. In fact, wind exists because the sun unevenly heats the surface of the Earth. As hot air rises, cooler air moves in to fill the void. As long as the sun shines, the wind will blow. And wind has long served as a power source to humans. Ancient mariners used sails to capture the wind. Solar Energy Basics Solar is the Latin word for sun—a powerful source of energy that can be used to heat, cool, and light our homes and businesses. That's because more energy from the sun falls on the earth in one hour than is used by everyone in the world in one year. A variety of technologies convert sunlight to usable energy for buildings. The most commonly used solar technologies for homes and businesses are solar water heating, passive solar design for space heating and cooling, and solar photovoltaics for electricity. Solar panels installed on a home in Colorado. Businesses and industry also use these technologies to diversify their energy sources, improve efficiency, and save money.