Solar power Definition and 63 Threads

Solar power is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), indirectly using concentrated solar power, or a combination. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and solar tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaic cells convert light into an electric current using the photovoltaic effect.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. Commercial concentrated solar power plants were first developed in the 1980s. As the cost of solar electricity has fallen, the number of grid-connected solar PV systems has grown into the millions and gigawatt-scale photovoltaic power stations are being built. Solar PV is rapidly becoming an inexpensive, low-carbon technology to harness renewable energy from the Sun. The current largest photovoltaic power station in the world is the Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka, India with a generation capacity of 2050 MW.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 worldwide electricity consumption, and solar would be the world's largest source of electricity. Most solar installations would be in China and India. In 2019, solar power generated 2.7% of the world's electricity, growing over 24% from the previous year. As of October 2020, the unsubsidised levelised cost of electricity for utility-scale solar power is around $36/MWh.

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  1. Cosmology2015

    Tension at a SPD for Solar Power System

    Hello there! I am using a Surge Protection Device (SPD) for Solar Power System. My home uses a 3-phase system (380V and 220V at each phase). What should be the tension between the phase and ground at the SPD? And between the ground and neutral? Should be any tension at all? God bless all. PS. My...
  2. S

    Citizen explorer tries to explain the Ivanpah Solar Power Towers

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  3. F

    Hydro Power is Actually Solar Power

    Hydroelectric power, effected usually by damming a river, is ordinary considered an example of energy produced by gravitational potential. However, from an ultimate perspective, hydro power is actually an example of solar power. Water must drop to a lower gravitational potential to extract...
  4. BWV

    Solar power: a looming environmental disaster?

    Had not seen much discussion of this, but of course PV cells are semiconductors with a finite life and will have to be disposed of within a decade or two https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2104162/chinas-ageing-solar-panels-are-going-be-big-environmental-problem
  5. V

    Secondary Mirror in Solar Concentrator Dish Designs

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  6. N

    US solar power generation for 2014-17

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  7. D

    I Explanation for the hyperbolic array of light rays.

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  8. F

    Harnessing Solar Power for a Sustainable Farm

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  9. J

    Does Solar Power Contribute to Global Warming?

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  10. A

    Amplifying the voltage from a homemade battery.... In rural Africa

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  11. N

    My Plug And Play Solar Energy System

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  12. N

    US solar power generation for 2014-16

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  13. C

    B Can Mirrored Solar Arrays Create a Continuous Ion Channel for Energy Transfer?

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  14. Brandon91man

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  15. R

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  16. Stavale8099

    Solar power, battery charging, and inverters

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  17. C

    System Design of a Solar Power System

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  18. wolram

    Will Solar Power Outshine Oil in the Near Future?

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  19. Z

    What is the forefront of research in energy?

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  20. J

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  21. B

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  22. G

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  23. B

    I need your help for my solar power greenhouse fan project

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  24. J

    Solar Power Islanding - Jake Platt

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  25. A

    Thesis Title - Space Based Solar Power (recommendations)

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  26. marciokoko

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  27. E

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  28. A

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  29. M

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  30. S

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  31. Lebombo

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  32. Pengwuino

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  33. T

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  34. S

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  35. N

    Is Residential Solar Power a No-Cost Solution for Homeowners?

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  36. J

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  37. C

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  38. R

    Fraction solar power due to UV

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  39. T

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  40. A

    Revolutionizing Solar Power: Innovative Ways to Harness Energy from Light Waves

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  41. R

    Calculate Solar Power Requirements: Formula for Home Energy Needs

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  42. rootX

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  43. U

    Space Based Solar Power Generation.

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  44. C

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  45. S

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  46. D

    Programs Exploring Bachelor in Electrical Engineering for Solar Power

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  47. Ivan Seeking

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  48. O

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  49. T

    Exploring the Mathematics of Solar Power: From High School to Graduate Level

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  50. Andre

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