What is solar energy?

Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available, and the U.S. has some of the richest solar resources in the world.

What is solar energy & how does it work?

Solar energy is a very flexible energy technology: it can be built as distributed generation (located at or near the point of use) or as a central-station, utility-scale solar power plant (similar to traditional power plants).

Where does solar power come from?

The majority of the world’s solar power comes from solar photovoltaics (solar panels). China has dominated the solar industry, holding more than 37 percent of the global installed capacity of installed photovoltaic capacity in 2022.

Which countries use solar energy?

Japan, Germany, and the United States are major markets for solar cells. With tax incentives, and efficient coordination with energy companies, solar electricity can often pay for itself in five to ten years. Though costly to implement, solar energy offers a clean, renewable source of power.

What is the potential of solar energy?

Solar energy potential Earth's photovoltaic power potential. The potential for solar energy conversion is enormous, since about 200,000 times the world’s total daily electricity demand is received by Earth in the form of solar energy.

What is solar energy used for?

This energy can be used to generate electricity or be stored in batteries or thermal storage. Below, you can find resources and information on the basics of solar radiation, photovoltaic and concentrating solar-thermal power technologies, electrical grid systems integration, and the non-hardware aspects (soft costs) of solar energy.