As sunlight passes through the atmosphere, some of it is absorbed, scattered, and reflected by the following: * Air molecules * Water vapor * Clouds * Dust * Pollutants * Forest fires * Volcanoes. This is called diffuse solar radiation. The solar radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface without being diffused is called direct beam [...]
Posts under ‘Solar Electricity’
Solar Radiation Basics
Solar radiation is a general term for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. We can capture and convert solar radiation into useful forms of energy, such as heat and electricity, using a variety of technologies. The technical feasibility and economical operation of these technologies at a specific location depends on the available solar radiation [...]
How to Evaluate Your Site’s Solar Resource for Solar Electricity
The solar resource across the U.S. is ample for solar electric systems—also known as photovoltaic (PV) systems—because they can use both direct and scattered sunlight. However, the amount of electricity generated at a particular site depends on how much of the sun’s energy reaches it. Thus, PV systems function most efficiently in the southwestern United [...]
Considering a Small Solar Electric System
To help evaluate whether a small solar electric system will work for you, you should consider the following: Your available solar resource—do you have clear and unobstructed access to sunlight for most or all of the day, throughout the year? The system size—do you have a roof or area large enough to accommodate it? The [...]
How Small Solar Electric Systems Work
Solar electric systems, also known as photovoltaic (PV) systems, convert sunlight into electricity. Solar cells—the basic building blocks of a PV system—consist of semiconductor materials. When sunlight is absorbed by these materials, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms. This phenomenon is called the “photoelectric effect.” These free electrons then travel into a [...]
Small Solar Electric Systems
A small solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system can be a reliable and pollution-free producer of electricity for your home or office. And they’re becoming more affordable all the time. Small PV systems also provide a cost-effective power supply in locations where it is expensive or impossible to send electricity through conventional power lines. Because [...]