Facts About Solar Energy

The solar energy information and facts page

Just the Facts About Solar Energy. Did you know that you're already using solar energy in it's simplest form? Here's easy to understand solar power information and interesting facts that put things into perspective.

In less than 1.5 hours enough solar rays are absorbed by the earth to power the entire planet for a year... and we're constantly discovering new ways of turning that energy into practical household power.

Interesting solar energy information we've collected throughout the years.

facts about solar energy

Solar power is anything but new, but there's an emergence of dazzling new ways to use it. The heating, lighting and drying properties of the sun have been recognized for centuries and solar has been used as an energy source long before coal and oil made their debut.

In more recent years we've learned to capture and use solar energy in more sophisticated ways and proved that it's potential as a green energy source exceeds that of all other renewable energies.

Here we share dozens of amazing solar energy facts and information that point out just how versatile and renewable this abundant resource is.

General Facts About Solar Energy

The solar energy (sunlight) that reaches the earth in 20 days, provides energy in an amount equivalent to all of the oil, coal and natural gas reserves stored within the earth.
The amount of energy the sun spills onto the earth in 45 minutes is enough to provide the entire population of the planet with energy for one year.
Every day, the amount of sunlight that reaches earth is enough to provide energy to all of the earth's inhabitants for 27 years (at our current rate of consumption).
100 square miles of solar panels placed in the US's southwestern quadrant could power the entire continental US.
Demand for solar energy has grown at a rate of approximately 30% per year since the early 1990's.
Fossil fuels began life as plants and animals that were reliant on the sun. In a quirky way, that makes fossil fuels solar energy.
The sun is a completely renewable form of energy meaning that it naturally renews itself.
Some forms of solar energy are free. Passive solar power is the manipulation of the heat and light of the sun for use in your household without expensive solar panels.
Converting solar power from DC - the type stored in batteries - to AC - the type used in most households - results in a 12% loss of energy.
Solar energy is much more cost effective for island and remote territories than grid connection.
Solar energy has proven to be the most abundant renewable resource available to the world. *In fact, the potential for solar energy is higher than wind, geothermal, biomass, hydropower and ocean (tidal) energies combined according to data extracted from the Worldwatch Institute, 2009.

Historical Facts About Solar Energy

In 1921 (82 years after Edmond Becquerel demonstrated photovoltaic activity) Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize for his theories on the photoelectric effect.
As early as 7th century BC, man discovered that directing a ray of sun through a piece of glass could start a fire if the ray fell upon something flammable.
By 3rd century BC, Greeks and Romans were setting ceremonial torches alight by reflecting sunlight through mirrors.
In 6th century AD sunlight was so respected as a source of heat and light that Justinian's Sun-Right Law provided for all buildings to have a right to the sun's rays. The law prevented the erection of new buildings that would block the sun to any existing structure.
The Anasazi cliff dwellings (pictured below) from the period of 1050 to 1300 AD were developed to use passive solar energy.
The first solar power cell was produced in 1883 using selenium as the semi conductive property. Although it was a very promising beginning, the amount of energy produced was very small.

facts about solar energy

Facts About Passive Solar Energy

Solar energy can be captured for free with the use of thermal and reflective materials and the proper orientation of your home.
It will cost about the same amount of money to include passive solar design concepts in a house design, as it will cost if you don't.
Passive solar power can save you thousands of dollars on energy costs and can cost very little to establish.
The Anasazi cliff dwellings (pictured above) depended on solar passive energy for heat and light almost 1,000 years ago.

The Facts About Solar Energy ~ Thermal

In 20 years of use a solar water heater will prevent the release of roughly 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
The first commercial solar water heater was patented in 1891 by Clarence Kemp, an inventor from Baltimore.

solar fudge

In 1767 the first solar cooker was invented by Horace de Saussure. Capable of reaching temperatures of 230 degrees F. it produced enough heat to boil water!
Our 10 year old Grandson built a solar oven for his Grade 5 project and started a small business selling solar fudge at a Saturday market in the Gulf Islands, Canada.

The Facts About Solar Energy ~ Photovoltaic

Solar cells are composed of silicon (the same substance used in computer chips). Silica is found in sand which is one of the most abundant substances on our planet.
A photovoltaic array is likely to keep producing solar energy for 40 years... or more. Systems established in the 1970's are still productive today.
Monocrystalline photovoltaic cells are composed of one (mono) silicon crystal. It takes a lot of time to grow one crystal thus monocrystalline is less available and more expensive than polycrystalline. However, monocrystalline is more effective in hot weather and collects light earlier in the morning and later at night than polycrystalline.
Polycrystalline photovoltaics are composed of many (poly) smaller crystals of silicon making them less expensive, more abundant, more available although they are a little less efficient.
PV Panels work best in cooler temperatures. Most panels are rated at an operating temperature of 25 degrees celsius (77F) and lose small amounts of efficiency as the operating temperature rises. At a temperature of 50C (122F) the system efficiency will have decreased by 12%. The higher the temperature of the panels as they work - the more power potential they lose.

The Facts About Solar Energy ~ Thin Film

Nano solar technology will soon be producing a spray on solar product that can turn almost any surface into a solar panel.
Thin film photovoltaic "panels" are being manufactured at a cost that is affordable to almost all of us.
Thin film technology (nano solar) has collectors so small that they can be incorporated into fabrics, paints and architecture.
At this point thin film is less efficient than photovoltaics. The marriage of the two of them will likely produce the collector we've all been waiting for - Efficient and inexpensive.

The Facts About Solar Energy ~ Cost

The process of converting the silica into silicon is laborious and expensive and that's what makes solar panels so expensive.
The initial cost of $1,500 to $3,000 for a solar water heater will be paid back in energy savings in under seven years.
The end cost of a home solar system will vary greatly depending on whether the system is tied to the grid or off-grid. An off-grid system requires batteries and accurate sizing.
The solar panels represent only a portion of the cost of a solar system. Accurate costing takes into account all of the required adjuncts of a functioning system. A grid tied system will typically cost $2.10 per watt not including mounting rails and an off grid system will cost in the neighborhood of $5.85 per watt.
Installing a solar power water heater can reduce water heating costs by 50% to 80% each year.
Like your home, a solar power system is an investment that pays for itself over time. It may take many years but it does pay for itself.

Car Cost Estimates

Purchase -$15,000
Insurance - $500/yr
Fuel & oil - $2,400/yr
Parking - $1,000/yr
Maint. - $500/yr

As a comparison. A $15,000 car over a 10 year span will cost the owner at least $59,000 (using very conservative estimates for insurance, registration, fuel, maintenance, parking and a cash purchase of the vehicle) At the end of the 10 years you will have a car that is worth almost nothing and has not saved you a single penny.
A $59,000 solar system in those same 10 years, will have eliminated your household energy bill and will continue to provide no-cost energy to your home for an additional 30 years. The value of the system will be reflected in the sale price of your home should you decide to sell in the future.
A solar electric system can be taken with you if you move residences.

Updates ~ Facts About Solar Energy ~ Updates

May 2009 - Sanyo has announced their hybrid solar panel that incorporates both single cell silicon pv, with thin film making them the first on board the "generation 3" solar technology. Known by their registered trademark name of HIT they've achieved up to 17.1%. efficiency.

Although that may not seem like much of a leap to you, remember that because this is a combination of pv with thin film (amorphous) technology the panels work for more hours per day and are capable of picking up spectrums of light that pv alone, cannot.