5 Things You Might Not Have Known About Solar Energy
Solar roofing panels are good and all. With the noise levels solar roofing technologies are reaching, many people take the technology for granted. However, these five stellar facts most people don't know might surprise you and even change your life (once you get a Littleton, CO solar panel installation team installing a new solar panel set, that is)!
You Have Access to 173,000 Terawatts of Energy FREE
One terawatt is equivalent to one trillion watts, which can power an entire country. Accessing 173,000 terawatts of energy for free and power billions of homes is an amazing achievement that new solar technologies can give anyone.
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Can Supply Energy to 70,000 Homes
CSPs have thousands of solar panels and mirrors that reflect solar energy. Doing this allows it to transfer so much solar energy with enough wattage to power 70,000 homes with just a single array.
2060 is The Year of Solar Technologies
This year, solar energy technologies have seen a massive increase in advancement and adaptation. By 2060, technologists estimate it can power up to 70% of homes worldwide.
Solar Energy Has Been Around Since 1800
The Photovoltaic Effect circulated in scientific circles thanks to Alexandre Edmond Becquerel's observations in 1839. By 1941, Russell Ohl built the prototype solar panel. We've come a long way!
You Don't Need Direct Sunlight To Collect Power
Solar panels collect energy from the sun using brightness hues (AKA the photovoltaic effect. While clouds won't stifle the hues to collect energy, you'll still want to point your solar panels in the sun's general direction.
Moxie Solar has a great list of amazing facts you might've not known about solar energy, technologies, and panels. Read more about it below.
Over the past several years, the popularity of solar energy for residential and commercial use has skyrocketed. The main reason for this is the irresistible combination of modern solar panel efficiency and current money-savings solar incentives, and those are solar energy facts.
Going solar makes more sense now than ever before, and unless you live in Antarctica, you’ve probably seen solar panel systems pop up all over your town and wondered more about them. Are they right for you? That’s a question best answered by an expert solar energy consultant. Still, these 16 interesting facts about solar energy will help put the idea of installing solar panels into perspective.
1. Solar power is the most abundant energy source on earth
The amount of potential solar energy that falls on Earth’s surface in 1-hour equals the total annual energy consumption of everyone on the planet. 20 days of sunshine can create the same amount of energy as all the Earth’s coal, oil, and natural gas combined.
2. Solar power is the fastest-growing energy source
In early 2019, the U.S. surpassed 2 million solar system installations. This milestone comes just three years after the industry completed its 1 millionth installation, a feat that took 40 years to accomplish. Most notably, the solar industry will reach 4 million installations in 2023. Solar’ is the fastest-growing energy resource in the world.
3. Solar is the cheapest source of energy in the world
The cost of solar panels has dropped by 80% since 2008. In December 2016, the cost of building and installing new solar electricity generation dropped to $1.65 per watt, narrowly beating out its renewable counterpart wind ($1.66/Watt) and its fossil fuel competitors.
4. Solar electricity has been around since 1839
In 1839, Alexandre Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect—that is, the ability to create an electric current from the sun’s rays. Then, Russell Ohl invented the first solar panel cell in 1941 and the first commercial panel was put out by Bell Laboratories in 1954.
5. Today, solar panel efficiency is higher than ever
Most solar panels sold in 2020 have efficiencies between 15% and 20%, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The first silicon solar panels were only about 6% efficient. (Continue)
If you plan to install new solar panels on your roof, you can always count on Littleton, CO's best solar installation team to help you. Roper Roofing and Solar guarantee only the best results for all your solar panel installation and roofing needs. Contact us today!
