The Basics of Solar Technology

Solar technology harnesses the sun's energy to generate electricity. Every location on Earth receives at least some sunlight during the year. By harnessing the energy from this light, solar technologies can generate electricity and store it for later use. These technologies use photovoltaic cells and mirrors to concentrate solar radiation. Using this energy, solar power systems can generate electricity, which can then be stored in batteries or thermal storage systems. Keep reading this post for more information.

Solar engineers work with a variety of materials and processes to design and manufacture solar cells. The basic materials used in solar panels are semiconductors, which are both conductors of electricity and insulators of heat. The process for producing solar cells starts with the production of silicon or other semiconducting materials called ingots. These ingots are then cut into thin wafers. The wafers are then joined to metal strips and assembled into solar cells. These cells are then placed into larger solar panels.

Solar technology has the potential to supply electricity locally and economically to remote areas. Over 1.3 billion people lack access to electricity distribution networks and the development of solar energy can help rural communities provide lighting, groundwater pumping, telecommunication systems, and electrical appliances. The photoelectric effect, discovered by the French physicist Edmond Becquerel in 1839, helps solar cells convert light energy into electricity. However, solar cells are expensive to produce.

The federal government has a role to play in the development of solar power. In the United States, the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) has allowed many home owners to take advantage of solar energy. Through these incentives, solar energy has become mainstream for residential use. As a result, the federal government is actively engaged in solar energy research. View here to learn more about solar technology. 

The research in solar technology includes the development of new materials and methods for solar cells. The current focus of solar power research is to improve solar cell efficiency. Efficiency refers to the percentage of energy captured by a solar panel. Current solar panels can only harvest about ten to fifteen percent of the energy that is emitted by the sun.

Solar thermal power technology is another type of solar energy technology. These solar panels capture the sun's heat and transfer it to a heat transfer fluid. This fluid can be water, air, or even antifreeze. Then, it travels to the desired area. This technology is most effective in countries with high intensity of sunlight.

Solar thermal technology harnesses the heat from the sun and converts it to electricity and mechanical energy. This type of solar technology is commonly used for large-scale solar power plants. Such power plants can be deployed over hundreds of hectares and feed electricity to the electrical grid. The energy generated can be used directly or indirectly for lighting or other uses. You can get more enlightened on this topic by reading here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energy.