Solar · 7 min read · Energy Atlas Editorial
Solar Energy
The solar resource is vast. Engineering is about converting a variable, dilute flux into useful heat or electricity.
- solar
Outside the atmosphere, solar irradiance is about 1.36 kilowatts per square metre (the solar constant). Atmosphere, angle, and night reduce what a panel sees. PV and CSP are different conversion routes sharing the same star.
Keep reading
Articles
The Energy Use of the Photovoltaic Effect
When a photon with an energy of up to 1.12 eV hits a semiconductor, an electron is released. This photovoltaic effect is used in solar panels.
5 min read
Concentrating Solar Power
Mirrors concentrate sunlight to make heat, then electricity — sometimes after storing the heat.
6 min read
Questions
Why does a solar panel produce electricity?
Photons free carriers in a semiconductor; a junction sends them around an external circuit.