Imagine a technology that allows you to charge your devices and is durable while using a resource in infinite abundance. Solar solutions for home use can do precisely that. That’s not the best part. You don’t need to worry about using the grid because you run your devices primarily on sunlight. You won’t receive any bills at the end of the month. Even if you don’t, the total amount is…
Solar panels, like other devices that generate energy, produce electricity when exposed to sunlight. Solar panels are usually mounted on the roofs of buildings so that sunlight can directly hit them. The amount of power solar panels generate per square foot depends on several factors, including the type and angle of sunlight. It’s essential to know how much energy can be produced by a solar panel system. This can be…
Solar power is becoming increasingly popular among homeowners looking for an environmentally-friendly, cost-effective option to conventional energy sources. Solar systems are a great way to generate electricity at home. They can reduce dependence on the power grid and lower energy bills. This blog will give you a complete overview of solar power, including its benefits, applications, and more. Solar energy produced by solar systems at home is sustainable, renewable, does…
Weather can change suddenly if you don’t live in the sunny Southwest. The polar vortex extends southwards to the point that Washington, D.C., has also experienced some deep chills. Solar photovoltaic panels (PVs) produce power in all four seasons, even though it might seem like solar power is only for summer. The SunShot Initiative is funding Regional Testing Centers to test solar panels in various climates. Researchers at the test centers have…
Most people may be surprised to learn that utilities need access to real-time data about their customer’s electricity consumption. The utility only sees a drop in electricity consumption when someone installs solar in their home or office. They can’t tell how much energy the rooftop solar system is saving. It is difficult for utilities to optimize their distribution system. The SunShot Initiative’s Enabling Real-Time Grid Integration of Solar Energy (ENERGISE) funding…
Solar energy has grown exponentially over the past ten years. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History added a new exhibit highlighting how solar has evolved since scientists began trying to harness the sun’s power. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has added a show to highlight the exponential growth of solar over the last ten years. The Solar on the Line examines the technology and innovation behind solar energy as…
These methods exclude nearly half of Americans who need access to a suitable rooftop. These methods, however, leave out almost half of all Americans who don’t own a rooftop. This is why SunShot Initiative created the Solar in your community challenge. This challenge encourages the creation of innovative and new financial and business models to serve solar users who do not have rooftops (e.g., renters). We’ve listed three ways SunShot challenge teams…
On May 8, the Denver area was hit with a hailstorm of unusual severity. It left behind a trail that included shattered car windows, golf-ball-sized dents on roofs, and shattered glass on cars. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory staff set out to assess damage after the storm. The main campus of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, has more than 2,5 megawatts worth of photovoltaic power. Most of these panels (more…
The last time anyone in the U.S. experienced something like this was nearly a century ago: On August 21, the moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking most or all of the sunlight reaching the Earth across a wide swath of the United States. This is the first total eclipse to span the entire continent in over 99 years. It begins above Salem, Oregon, and ends…
Grid operators must make quick daily decisions to balance the grid because our energy needs are constantly changing. It can be on hot summer days when people turn on their air conditioners or during the winter when they heat up. Grid operators will have to find a solution for rapid increases in energy demand. Most concentrating solar thermal (CSP) systems now have energy storage. This acts as a battery in…
