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 hundreds of years. It is only with the advancements in technology that have taken place in recent years that have helped us to fully harness this energy.

Families in ancient Greece built 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 up towards the sky in the morning and in the evening back again.

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

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

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

The first solar flight took place in 1974 in California by an unmanned plane which was specially designed by two brothers Roland and Bob Boucher.

In 1975 the first solar vessel was 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 was held in 1987. This is a solar-powered motor race covering 3021 km over the Australian outback from Darwin to Adelaide.

Did you know that it is possible to increase any solar panel output by 75% by simply placing a mirror which is about twice the size of the panel on the surface in front of the panel?

PV cells do not require direct sunlight to work - you can still produce some electricity on a gloomy day.

Solar electricity is a green, renewable power and does not release any damaging carbon dioxide or other pollutants. A typical home Photovoltaic system could help save around 1200kg of CO2 each year which is around 30 tonnes over a lifetime.

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

You can sell off any extra electricity you produce using your solar power back to the power company and make a bit of money.

It takes no more than 8 minutes for solar energy to travel from the sun down to earth.

Around 30% of the radiation that we receive from the sun in the upper atmosphere is reflected back into space. The remainder is absorbed by the clouds, oceans and land masses here on Earth. Yet even in these types of conditions, the energy that our planet receives from just one hour of sun exposure is equivalent to the amount of power that human beings use in a whole year.

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

Wind Energy Is Becoming The Most-Invested-In Alternative Energy Supply For The Time Being
When it comes to talking about alternative energy resources, there really are quite a few. Throughout the many years quite a few discoveries have been made and it is only in this present era that people are actually harnessing the power of Nature.

Solar Power Companies - Watch Out For The Worldwide Energy Leaders
These days there are thousands of solar power companies that are able to supply solar power equipment to homeowners who want to save money on their energy costs.

Solar String Brightness - A Great Way To Decorate Your Very Own Home
Solar LED lights are increasingly becoming popular day by day due to its wide applications. Solar LED lights are best option for you to light up your house; they not only help in saving power but also help you to maintain a cleaner environment.

Solar Energy Deck LED Lights
A lot of folks are choosing to spend more time outdoors enjoying time on there decks, and at night they're in need of some kind of lighting. This night time light may be rendered by solar deck LED lights.

Solar Energy Powered Porch Cord Lights - Affordable Added To Your Outdoor 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.

Solar Power Costs - What Everybody Will Need To Know
There are 2 main factors that govern solar power cost and these are quite simply, the production cost of the solar panels and the installation cost of the solar system in your home.

Bargain Solar Power Systems - How To Get Great Panels For Less
If you want more information regarding the discount solar systems, you can go online through the net. You could see different sites and different establishment where you can find this discount solar panels.

Alternative Energy For Your Own 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.

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