Solar Energy Information

In the 1830s british astronomer john herschel used a solar oven to cook food during an expedition to africa.

Solar energy information. The tremendous growth in the u s. The time has finally come to look after some other renewable sources of energy i e solar wind and geothermal energy although many countries have started utilizing solar energy extensively they still have to go a long way to exploit this renewable energy to fulfill. As of 2011 the technology produced less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand. Solar energy radiation from the sun capable of producing heat causing chemical reactions or generating electricity.

Various solar energy facts. Seven facts about solar energy one hour. Solar energy facts reveal that the first documented use of solar energy although extremely simple can be traced back to 7th century bc when people used magnifying glasses to light fires. Over the past few years the cost of a solar energy system has dropped significantly helping to give more american families and business access to affordable clean energy.

People now use many different technologies for collecting and converting solar radiation into useful heat energy for. Every hour there s enough solar energy hitting the earth to replace all other energy sources humans use. Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available and the u s. Has some of the richest solar resources in the world.

Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Energy information administration frequently asked questions business insider here s how much of the world would need to be covered in solar panels to power earth org 11 facts about pollution the national renewable energy laboratory pv faqs world wildlife fund getting solar is easy s. The world s first solar collector was built in 1767 by a swiss scientist horace de saussure and it was used for cooking food and heating water. Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the sun that is harnessed using a range of ever evolving technologies such as solar heating photovoltaics solar thermal energy solar architecture molten salt power plants and artificial photosynthesis.

The total amount of solar energy incident on earth is vastly in excess of the world s energy requirements and could satisfy all future energy needs if suitably harnessed. It is an essential source of renewable energy and its technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending. Through a portfolio of r d efforts the energy department remains committed to leveraging america. An example of an early solar energy collection device is the solar oven a box for collecting and absorbing sunlight.

Solar technologies can harness this energy for a variety of uses including generating electricity providing light or a comfortable interior environment and. The consumption of non renewable sources like oil gas and coal is increasing at an alarming rate. Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun s energy and make it useable.