200 Interesting Facts About Solar Energy

Facts About Solar Energy - Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using a range of technologies such as solar power to generate electricity, solar thermal energy (including solar water heating), and solar architecture.

Today in this post we are going to share Facts about Solar Energy. Please share this post with your friends. I hope you like this post.

Interesting Facts About Solar Energy

Solar panels can last for over 40 years.
Solar technology can even be applied to paint.
Solar power plants can last more than 40 years.
The average solar panel has a 25-year warranty.
Solar energy is a very reliable source of energy.
Most customers rent or finance their solar panels.
Solar energy can also be used to power calculators.
Solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels as of 2019.
Solar panels are the fastest energy source to set up.
Russell Ohl created the first photovoltaic cell in 1941.
Solar can power your home at night if you add a battery.
1 megawatt (MW) of solar energy can power over 200 homes.
The price of solar panels have reduced by 80% since 2008.
The International Space Station is entirely solar powered.
China built a 250-acre solar farm in the shape of a panda.
The first solar-powered calculators were invented in 1978.
In many parts of the world, solar is now cheaper than coal.
Food can be cooked, dried or pasteurized using solar energy.
Solar energy produces no water pollution after installation.
The solar capacity of the globe totals around 300 gigawatts.
Solar power does not create any noise while producing energy.
Alexandre Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect in 1839.
Old coal mines are now being converted into solar power plants.
California generates the most solar energy in the United States.
Bell Laboratories developed the first modern solar cell in 1954.
Solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to generate electricity.
Solar power is the most abundant source of energy on the planet.
In the United States, southern facing solar panels perform best.
Solar Energy is measured in kilowatt-hour. 1 kilowatt = 1000 watts.
Leonardo da Vinci was the first to predict large scale solar power.
Contrary to popular belief, solar panels still work on cloudy days.
Solar energy is the quickest solution to energy in times of crisis.
Walmart is one of the largest commercial adopters of solar power.
In 1954, Bell Laboratories built the first ever silicon solar cell.
Clothes can be dried in the sun using clotheslines, cloth racks etc.
More than 260,000 people worked in the solar energy industry in 2016.
Solar technology has been applied to paint and woven into the fabric.
There is more than one solar panel installed per person in Australia.
The most efficient solar panels are made from monocrystalline silicon.
Many states and towns are mandating solar panels on all new buildings.
Solar panels actually perform more efficiently in cooler temperatures.
Over 2 million solar systems have been installed in the United States.
Solar panels have no moving parts and require virtually no maintenance.
The first silicon solar cell was developed by Bell Laboratories in 1954.
China is currently the global leader in installed solar energy capacity.
More solar energy reaches Earth in one hour than the world uses all year.
Over 2 million solar panel systems have been installed in the U. S. alone.
The solar industry is creating jobs five times faster than the job market.
A home with solar panels reduces its 30-year carbon footprint by 100 tons.
Even oil and gas companies like Exxon Mobile use solar panels on oil rigs.
In 2015, solar accounted for only 1% of the world’s electricity generation.
In 2019, 40% of all new electric capacity added to the grid came from solar.
Homes with solar panels sell for approximately 4.1% more than homes without.
Space missions by various countries use solar energy to power their spaceships.
One hour of sunlight is equivalent to one year’s worth of energy for the planet.
The earth receives about 1,366 watts of direct solar radiation per square meter.
World record solar efficiency was set in December of 2014 at around 45% efficiency.
Solar energy has been used by plants and microorganisms since the beginning of time.
In 2016, Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard flew around the world in a solar-powered plane.
The United States is the third-largest solar energy market and generator in the world.
Increased demand for solar is leading to a greater demand for electric vehicles (EVs).
There are 3 main types of solar cells: amorphous, polycrystalline and monocrystalline.
Australia’s total PV capacity at the end of 2016 is 5.44 gigawatts (billions of watts)
Homeowners experience “break-even” on their solar panel installation in under a decade.
Solar PV systems don’t produce noise or chemical pollution while generating electricity.
Australia has the highest average solar radiation than any other continent in the world.
The city government of Las Vegas, NV operates on 100% renewable energy from solar panels.
The photovoltaic (PV) effect was discovered by French scientist Edmond Becquerel in 1839.
The total capacity of PV systems installed in Australia quadrupled between 2011 and 2016.
Price of electricity from solar is predicted to hit 1 cent per kilowatt hour before 2020.
Sheep are being used for vegetation maintenance on solar farms to reduce operations costs.
At around 1,000 acres, the world’s largest solar power plant is located in the Mojave Desert.
Solar energy users save up to 35 tons of carbon dioxide and 75 million barrels of oil each year.
One of the most common reasons people go solar is because someone in close proximity to them did.
Since 2008, the price of the solar system has dropped by 80%, and it is expected to keep falling.
To power the whole earth with solar energy, it would require 191,000 square miles of solar panels.
Solar-powered calculators were invented in 1978, and are likely the first way you used solar energy.
The photovoltaic effect enables electrons to capture energy from photons (light) emitted by the sun.
In 2017, renewable energy jobs, including solar, overtook the number of jobs related to fossil fuels.
Solar energy has been harvested organically by plants and microorganisms since the beginning of life.
Many US states allow solar owners to sell back excess power to the grid, which is called net metering.
In 30 years, the average rooftop solar panel system can reduce pollution by 100 tons of carbon dioxide.
Las Vegas, Nevada is the largest city to operate on 100% renewable energy, which is largely solar power.
Countries that have reached 95 to 100% renewable energy includes Iceland, Paraguay, Tokelau and Uruguay.
Solar PV systems don’t have moving parts and are very low maintenance, with panels lasting up to 35 years.
The sun generates solar energy through nuclear fusion, where hydrogen atoms fuse together to create helium.
Around 80% of the sunlight that hits the ice is reflected into space, whereas the ocean absorbs around 90%.
Though solar energy is used on a wide scale, it only provides a small fraction of the world’s energy supply.
Burlington, Vermont was the first city in America to achieve 100% clean energy generation for its residents.
Popular music festivals around the world are embracing solar, geothermal, and other natural sources of power.
Australia is a leader in household solar, with more than 1 in 5 Australian households now using solar energy.
The largest solar power plant in the world is located in the Mojave Desert in California, covering 1000 acres.
Solar energy is the fastest growing energy sector in the world. Solar demand is currently at an all-time high.
By relying on battery backup, solar energy can even provide electricity 24×7, even on cloudy days and at night.
Photovoltaic solar panels are made of silicon, which is the second most abundant element on Earth after oxygen.
The first solar PV cells were used to power early satellites and consumer electronics, not houses and buildings.
Large investment is one of the primary reasons why solar energy is still not used by many people all over the world.
The rate of energy generated by solar is measured in watts, which is the equivalent of 1 Joule of energy per second.
Common domestic use of solar energy is from solar panels that absorb solar energy to use for cooking and heating water.
About 30% of incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space and the rest is absorbed by clouds, oceans, and land.1
174,000 terawatts of energy consistently strike the earth as solar radiation at any moment, even on the cloudiest of days.
When thinking about electricity demand, Thomas Edison is quoted as saying, “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy.”
Solar panels create electricity when the sun’s photons energize the electrons of silicon molecules within the solar cells.
Solar hot water systems work by extracting heat from the sun. They come in the form of “flat panels” and “evacuated tubes”
The record for the cheapest electricity on the planet was set by a Mexican solar plant at 1.77 US cents per kilowatt hour.
Solar panels combined with batteries enables homes to become “off-grid” and rely purely on the sun to provide electricity.
Solar energy has been used for over 2700 years. In 700 BC, glass lenses were used to make fire by magnifying the sun’s rays.
173,000 terawatts of solar energy hit the Earth continuously – that’s greater than 10,000 times the world’s total energy use.
Solar energy could prove to be the major source of renewable energy because of its massive potential and long-term advantages.
Photovoltaic cells were first used in satellites and consumer electronics. The large-scale application of solar came much later.
Investing in solar power pays for itself over time. Our customers often break even and are cash-flow positive within five years.
The rate of energy generation from Australia’s National Energy Market is approximately 50,000 megawatts or 50,000,000,000 watts.
Around 55-60% of solar energy from the sun is lost as it enters the earth’s atmosphere due to absorption and reflection of light.
Solar PV systems are extremely safe and have virtually no risk of chemical leaks, explosions or fire, unlike other energy sources.
Breweries are utilizing solar to cut operation costs. Heineken powers its brewing in the Netherlands with over 16,000 solar panels.
Solar energy is the preferred mode of creating power where the need is temporary. For e.g., temporary fairs, mining sites, Olympics.
Thermal solar panels heat water with the sun’s warmth, while photovoltaic (PV) solar panels produce electricity with the sun’s light.
The average solar panel system operates at 20% efficiency, meaning that it converts 20% of the sunlight that hits it into electricity.
Most solar panels are rigid, although flexible solar panels are often used for recreational vehicles or small-scale energy production.
One reason for the polarity of solar PV in Australia is due to the very high household electricity prices compared to other countries.
Solar energy is used in many applications, including Electricity, Evaporation, Biomass, Heating water and buildings and even Transport.
Monocrystalline solar panels are darker in color and more efficient than polycrystalline panels, which are generally more blue in appearance.
Queensland and South Australia have the highest percentage of houses with solar PV at approximately 30% of all houses in their state with PV.
Solar power is free of noise pollution. It has no moving parts and does not require any additional fuel, other than sunlight, to produce power.
Innovative uses of solar PV technologies include phone chargers, streetlights and vaccine refrigerators where grid electricity is not guaranteed.
With new advancements in scientific researches, solar energy could be more affordable in the future with decreasing costs and increasing efficiency.
The sun is also the main source of non-renewable fossil fuels (coal, gas and petroleum), which began life as plants and animals millions of years ago.
The energy storage market is projected to double six times (32 times bigger) from 2016 to 2030, with projected investments at 103 billion USD by 2030.
Juno is the furthest space probe to be powered by solar. The solar panels have an equivalent capacity of 12 to 14 kilowatt if it were powered on earth.
On average, the total rate of energy from the sun that hits the earth is around 173,000 terawatts (trillions of watts) or 173,000,000,000,000,000 watts.
Solar panels are exempt from property taxes in many states including Massachusetts and increase the value of a home more than a complete kitchen remodel.
Solar energy is free, but solar panels cost money. However, most people still save money every month paying for panels rather than electricity from the grid.
The countries with the highest capacity of solar added are Japan (10.5 gigawatts), the United States (13 gigawatts) and China (34.2 gigawatts) in 2016 alone.
Germany leads the world in PV capacity per person, with around 473 watts per person, followed by Italy, Belgium, Japan then Australia (176 watts per person).
Battery storage allows solar electricity to be used when there is no sunlight. It comes in multiple types including lead-acid, lithium ion and even salt water.
Conventional solar panels can produce a range of 100 to 320 watts of electricity each. However, high performing solar panels can produce up to 400 watts per panel.
There are over 57 million square miles of land on Earth. In order to power the entire planet, we would need to install solar panels on just over 191,000 square miles.
Microgrids are versions of the electricity network that comprises of an electricity generation source, delivery infrastructure and loads that consume this electricity.
“Space-based solar power” is the idea of harnessing solar power in space, where there is no night time or atmosphere, to capture more energy than solar panels on Earth.
Solar energy is generated as DC (direct current) power. Typically, solar panels are installed with an inverter to convert DC power to usable AC (alternating current) power.
Adding solar panels to your home or business lowers your electricity bills significantly. In most cases, you’ll even receive incentives for the energy your system produces.
In 2016, the average installation size of small-scale PV systems was around 6 kilowatts or 6000 watts in Australia, approximately double the average size installed in 2013.
Australia will build the world’s biggest solar and battery storage plant in South Australia with 330 MW generating capacity with 3.4 million panels and 1.1 million batteries.
Solar electricity is measured in watts. 1000 watts = 1 kilowatt (kW). 1000 kW = 1 megawatt (MW). 1000 MW = 1 gigawatt (GW). 1000 GW = 1 terawatt (TW). 1000 TW = 1 petawatt (PW).
The earth gets 174 Petawatts of incoming solar radiation in the upper atmosphere. About 30% is reflected back to space, and the rest is absorbed by oceans, clouds and landmasses.
Solar energy also has another use. By means of photosynthesis, solar energy is converted into chemical energy by green plants, which creates the biomass that makes up fossil fuels.
The global weighted average cost to build a utility-scale solar farm is predicted to fall by 84% from 2009 to 2025 from almost 5000 USD per kilowatt to around 1000 USD per kilowatt.
The PV effect was first discovered by a French scientist named Edmond Becquerel in 1839, who noticed electricity generation from an electrolytic cell increased after exposure to light.
Solar chimneys are passive solar ventilation systems. Shafts connect the interior and exterior of the building. The functioning can be improved by glazing and using thermal mass materials.
Electricity prices from solar have reached a tipping point and now became cheaper than coal in many parts of the world. The global average price of solar is set to beat coal by around 2025.
If you don’t use the solar you generate, it is fed back into the grid unless you have a battery system. Most states pay a “feed-in” tariff to households that put electricity back to the grid.
Solar panels are virtually maintenance-free since the batteries require no water or other regular service and will last for years. Once solar panels are installed, there are no recurring costs.
Solar power can significantly reduce electricity bills. Moreover, there are many tax incentives and rebate programs designed to spur the use of solar and save homeowner’s money at the same time.
Thermal storage systems can store solar energy in the form of heat by using common materials with high specific heat such as stone, earth and water. Solar energy can also be stored in molten salts.
Solar energy is being recognized as the future of alternative energy sources as it is non-polluting and helps combat the Greenhouse effect on the global climate created by the use of fossils fuels.
“Space-based solar power” (SBSP) is a concept of harnessing solar energy in space, where there is no night time or atmosphere. Energy is converted into microwaves, so it can be captured on Earth’s surface.
Solar energy is a completely free source of energy, and it is found in abundance. Though the sun is 90 million miles from the earth, it takes less than 10 minutes for light to travel from that much distance.
Solar powered hot water systems utilize solar energy to heat water. In certain areas, 60 to 70% of the water used domestically for temperatures as high as 60 degrees Celsius can be made available by solar heating.
Solar energy can also be used for making potable, brackish or saline water. Without using electricity or chemicals, wastewater can be treated. Creating salt from seawater is also one of the oldest uses of solar energy.
The oil crisis of 1970 revealed the delicate nature of fossil fuels as a source of energy for the world. As such, research in the alternative, renewable energy technology like that of solar and wind energy gained momentum.
Solar energy which comprises of radiant heat and light from the sun can be harnessed with some modern technology like photovoltaic cells, solar heating, artificial photosynthesis, solar architecture and solar thermal electricity.
Unlike most other countries, most (approximately 85%) of Australia’s solar capacity comes from small scale solar (less than 10 kilowatts) rather than large solar plants whose capacity ranges from tens to hundreds of thousands of kW.
As of June of 2017, the biggest solar farm on the planet is the Tengger Desert Solar Park located in China aka. “The Great Wall of Solar”. It covers 1,200 square kilometre of land (3.2% of the whole Tengger Desert) and has a capacity of 1500 MW.
Government rebates and incentives encourage more adoption of solar. Incentives in Australia includes high feed-in-tariff for households with solar, technology certificates to subsidise the cost of buying solar panels and grants for building solar farms.
Solar chemical processes replace fossil fuels as a source for chemical energy and can make solar energy storable and transportable. Photosynthesis can create a variety of fuels. Technology for producing Hydrogen is a major area of solar chemical research.
When a solar power plant has been established, the power supply contract that it makes with its customers last for a span of approximately 20 to 25 years. This means that, once it has been established, a solar energy plant has to last for more than two decades.
Horticulture and agriculture seek to make the maximum use of solar energy. These include techniques like the timing of planting cycles and the mixing of plant varieties. Greenhouses are also used to convert light into heat to promote year-round cultivation of special crops.
Solar technology can be distinguished into active and passive. Photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors which harness solar energy are examples of active solar technology. Passive technology includes constructing rooms to improve air circulation, orienting space to use sunlight favorably.
A home solar panel system consists of several solar panels, an inverter, a battery, a charge regulator, wiring, and support materials. Sunlight is absorbed by the solar panels and is converted to electricity by the installed system. The battery stores electricity that can be used at a later time, like cloudy days or during the evening.
The water cycle is an important result of solar insulation. The earth, oceans and atmosphere absorb solar radiation and their temperature rises. Warm air rises from the oceans, causing convection. When this air rises to high altitudes, clouds are created by condensation of water vapor. These clouds cause rains that bring water back to the earth’s surface, which completes the water cycle.
Solar power is the most exciting use of solar energy. It is how solar energy is converted into electricity by using either photovoltaic (direct method) or concentrated solar power (indirect). Large beams of sunlight are focused into a small beam using mirrors or lenses in the case of concentrated solar power. The photoelectric effect is used by Photovoltaic to convert solar energy into electric energy.
It might be a little difficult to believe at first, but the fact is that solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. Solar energy approximately costs as little as 4.3 cents per kWh on unsubsidized terms. It’s hard to believe, is it not? This makes solar energy way cheaper than any other fossil fuel alternatives, which costs something between 4.2 cents per kWh to 7.8 cents per kWh. So your savings are really big.
Believe it or not, the cost of the solar panels has reduced by a staggering 99% since 1977. Solar panels are quintessential for the purpose of harvesting solar energy. According to the market reports of Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research, the cost of a solar cell now is just $0.21 per watt as compared to the $77 per watt of 1977. An entire assembled module costs just $0.39 per watt in recent years.
Solar energy is one of the most abundant sources of energy. It is no wonder that the sun holds enough energy to satiate the energy requirement of the entire world. If taken seriously and harnessed properly, humankind would never again require any other non-renewable sources of energy to fuel its requirements. In fact, as the usage of solar energy increases, the earth gradually becomes a more sustainable place to live in.
Clouds and pollution prevent the sun’s rays from reaching the earth. Every year the sun beams to the earth’s energy to sustain global needs of energy for the entire year. Solar energy is a technology used to convert solar energy into other forms, like electrical energy to meet global requirements. As of now, only one-tenth of global energy needs is supplied by solar energy, but the potential for the future is mind-boggling.
If the Mojave Desert is lined up with arrays of solar panels, harvesting solar energy there for a day, would generate more energy than the United States uses electricity annually. In fact, the amount of solar energy produced is actually twice the annual electricity usage in the US. Which means not only will it save a lot of money, but also, it will decrease the use of the non-renewable resources of fossil fuels by leaps and bounds.

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