Important Fun Facts About Solar Power

Here is a collection of remarkable solar power fun facts. People have used the sun as a heat source for thousands of years. It is only with the advances in technology that have taken place in recent years that have helped us to finally harness this energy.

Families in ancient Greece built their homes to get the most sunlight through the cold winter months. The ancient Greeks thought that the sun was the god Helios and he drove his chariot around the earth towards the sky in the morning and in the evening back again.

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

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

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

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

In 1975 the earliest solar vessel was crafted in England and in 1996 Kenichi Horie from Japan made the first solar powered crossing of the Pacific Ocean using a catamaran.

The first World Solar Challenge took place in 1987. This is the solar-powered motor contest covering 3021 km over the Australian outback from Darwin to Adelaide.

Did you know that it is actually possible to boost any solar power panel output by 75% simply by positioning a mirror which is roughly twice the size of the panel on the surface in front of the panel?

Photo voltaic cells do not need direct sunshine to work - you can still generate some electric power on a gloomy day.

Solar electricity is an eco-friendly, renewable power and does not put out any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollution. A typical home PV system can help save about 1200kg of CO2 each year which is around 30 tonnes during a lifetime.

You can store the electrical energy that your solar power system generates in batteries for a cloudy day.

You may sell off any excess electricity you produce with your solar power back to the grid making a bit of money.

It takes only about eight minutes for solar energy to travel from the sun down to the earth.

Around 30% of the radiation that we get from the sun at the upper atmosphere is actually reflected back to space. The rest is absorbed by the clouds, oceans and also land masses here on Earth. Yet still even in these types of conditions, the energy which our planet gets from merely one hour of sun exposure is equal to the amount of energy that human beings use within a whole year.

Large scale solar projects that are currently being developed world wide show that sun powered clean energy technologies are both achievable and lucrative. Solar power plants generate Megawatts (MW) with one MW being enough energy to supply 1000 homes. One of the most significant solar power projects which the world has ever seen is the "Desertec" plan to use the uninhabitable North African desert for a power grid of concentrated thermal electrical power stations which will supply Europe with just about all of its energy needs by the year 2050. So much progress within such a short period of time let us all see where solar electricity will go from here.

Wind Energy Has Become The Greatest-Invested-In Alternative Energy Resource 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 - Facts It's Good To Know About The World 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 Power Lights - Significantly Diminish Your Electric Bills
Reduce your energy bill and install solar power lights in your garden. Installation could not be easier for many types of solar garden lights it is as simple as either staking it into the ground or affixing it to a post.

Foldable Solar Panel - Know Some Of The Benefits When Using This Electric Generator And The Proper Way To Use It
Learn where to buy a good foldable solar panel for sale at an inexpensive price and start lowering your electricity now.

Develop Your Exterior Area Using Solar Outdoor LED Bulbs
You can find solar LED lights which have been made especially for the outside. These lights can exist through extreme weather conditions. There are also solar lights that feature vandal-proof panels. The actual fact that most of these are automatic also adds to their effectiveness.

Use The Power Of The Sun With DIY Solar Energy For Your Residence And Generate Your Own Electricity
Using the power of sun with solar electricity is a benefit to the environment and to your home. Solar electricity is already being used to supplement power for a number of large cities in North America.

Photovoltaic Cell Collecting As A Green Energy Resource
Photovoltaic cells are getting more efficient and gradually less expensive thanks to innovative designs which allow them to focus the gathered sunlight on a concentrated point.

Steel Frame Windows - Intelligent Approach For Power Efficiency
What with soaring energy and fuel costs, energy efficiency in your home or business is more important today than ever before.