Remarkable Solar Power Fun Facts

Here is a selection of remarkable solar power fun facts. People have used the sun as a heat source for thousands of years. It is only with the advances in technology that have taken place in recent years that have helped us to finally harness this power.

Families in ancient Greece designed their homes to get the most sunlight during the chilly winter months. The ancient Greeks believed that the sun was the god Helios and he drove his chariot around the earth towards the sky in the morning and in the evening back again.

The invention of the photovoltaic effect is attributed to the French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel in 1839.

In 1921 the Nobel Peace Prize was given to Albert Einstein for experiments with solar power and photovoltaics.

Back in 1955 The American Solar Energy Society held its first gathering in Phoenix and attracted the first Russian scientist to the US after the second World War. There is film footage exhibiting early photovoltaics which was developed for NASA, solar cookers and solar heating panels.

The first solar flight occurred in 1974 in California by an unmanned plane which was put together by two brothers Roland and Bob Boucher.

In 1975 the earliest solar boat had been constructed in England and in 1996 Kenichi Horie from Japan made the first solar powered crossing on the Pacific Ocean in a catamaran.

The first World Solar Challenge took place in 1987. This is the solar-powered motor competition covering 3021 km through the Australian outback from Darwin to Adelaide.

Did you know it is possible to increase any solar panel output by 75% simply by positioning a mirror which is approximately twice the size of the panel on the ground in front of the solar panel?

PV cells do not require direct sunlight to work - you can still generate some electric power on a gloomy day.

Solar electricity is an eco-friendly, renewable energy that does not release any damaging carbon dioxide or other pollutants. A typical home PV system can help save about 1200kg of CO2 per year which is about 30 tonnes over a lifetime.

It is possible to store the electricity that your solar power system generates in batteries for a cloudy day.

You may sell off any excess electricity that you generate using your solar power back to the power company and make a bit of money.

It takes only about eight minutes for solar energy to travel from the sun to the earth.

About 30% of the radiation we receive from the sun in the upper atmosphere is reflected back to space. The rest is absorbed by the clouds, oceans and also land masses here on Earth. Nevertheless even in these conditions, the power that our planet receives from just one hour of sun exposure is equal to the amount of energy that human beings use within an entire year.

Large scale solar projects which are being constructed world wide show that sun powered clean energy technology are both achievable and lucrative. Solar power plants generate Megawatts (MW) with one MW being enough power to supply 1000 households. One of the largest solar energy projects that the world has ever seen is the "Desertec" plan to use the uninhabitable North African desert for a power grid of concentrated thermal electrical power stations that could supply Europe with just about all of its power requirements by the year 2050. So much progress in such a brief period of time let us see where solar electricity will go from here.

Solar Power Solar Cells Along With Solar Power Home Heating Designs; 3 Essential Kinds Of Solar Panels.
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Use The Power Of The Sun's Rays With DIY Solar Powered Energy For Your Home And Generate Your Own Electrical Power
Using the power of sun with solar electricity is a benefit to the environment and to your home. Solar electricity is already being used to supplement power for a number of large cities in North America.

Small Solar Panels For Small Scale Renewable Power
There has never been a better time to build a small solar panel, make a move to low carbon living and begin to save money on your electricity bills.

Just What Is PV Solar Power?
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Foldable Solar Panel - Know Several Of The Rewards You'll Reap When Using This Electric Generator And The Correct Way To Make Use Of It
Learn where to buy a good foldable solar panel for sale at an inexpensive price and start lowering your electricity now.

Renewable Energy For Your Residential Home
The trend toward homes that are powered by alternative energy sources, ranging from wind turbines and solar collection cells to hydrogen fuel cells and biomass gases, is one that needs to continue into the 21 st century and beyond.

Solar Powered Porch Cord Lights - Inexpensive Added To Your Yard Deck Lighting
Solar String lights are the most common patio lights, they are similar to Christmas tree lighting with the exception of a plug. Other times you see them wrapped around a tree trunk, hung across a veranda or utilized in some form of outdoor garden decorations.

Advance Your Exterior Area By Using Solar Outdoor LED Light Bulbs
You can find solar LED lights which have been made especially for the outside. These lights can exist through extreme weather conditions. There are also solar lights that feature vandal-proof panels. The actual fact that most of these are automatic also adds to their effectiveness.