Solar Power, The Bright Alternative

Solar power is the most abundant energy resource on earth, with 20 days of a solar generation able to create the same amount of energy as all the Earth's fossil fuels combined. So, it is no surprise that solar panels on the domestic property can generate over and above a home’s electricity requirements. With the US energy price cap increase resulting in huge spikes in electricity bills, renewables like solar panels are becoming the go-to solution for homeowners looking to keep energy bills low while reducing their home's carbon emissions.

The sunlight that strikes the earth's surface in an hour and a half is enough to handle the entire world's energy consumption for a full year. Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy through photovoltaic (PV) panels or mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. This energy can be used to generate electricity or be stored in batteries or thermal storage.

Below, you can find resources and information on solar radiation, photovoltaic and concentrating solar-thermal power technologies, electrical grid systems integration, and the non-hardware aspects (soft costs) of solar energy. You can also learn more about how to go solar and the solar energy industry. In addition, you can dive deeper into solar energy and learn about how the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office is driving innovative research and development in these areas.