Solar power

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics convert light into an electric current using the photovoltaic effect.

The International Energy Agency projected in 2014 that under its "high renewables" scenario, by 2050, solar photovoltaics and concentrated solar power would contribute about 16 and 11 percent, respectively, of the worldwide electricity consumption, and solar would be the world's largest source of electricity. Most solar installations would be in China and India.

Photovoltaics were initially solely used as a source of electricity for small and medium-sized applications, from the calculator powered by a single solar cell to remote homes powered by an off-grid rooftop PV system. As the cost of solar electricity has fallen, the number of grid-connected solar PV systems has grown into the millions and utility-scale solar power stations with hundreds of megawatts are being built. Solar PV is rapidly becoming an inexpensive, low-carbon technology to harness renewable energy from the Sun.

Latest News for: Solar power globe

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Solar power’s uphill battle: Barriers to adoption in the shift to clean energy

Interesting Engineering 01 Nov 2024
We will also explore the ambitious $50 trillion Sahara Solar Project, which can power a significant portion of the globe, as part of our broader examination of solar energy’s potential and challenges.  ... This inefficiency necessitates using large land areas to generate significant solar power. ....
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Solar power set for its moment in the sun as climate change fight heats up

The National 18 Oct 2024
Solar power is leading the charge towards a more sustainable ......

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