The cost of solar installations has decreased by over 60% in the last decade. In 2016, the United States reached a new milestone in power production, installing a new solar device every 84 seconds. Growth of the solar energy industry is expected to continue as the technology becomes cheaper and more accessible and the need for a clean, secure energy sources grows.

Science of Solar

Solar has been used for thousands of years for a variety of different applications. Modern solar power is almost exclusively used to produce electricity. A solar panel is made up of photovoltaic cells with two types of semiconductors, and surrounded on both sides by protective glass. The panel works by absorbing photons (radiation from the sun) and transforming them into direct current electricity. Then a separate piece of equipment called the inverter converts the electricity to the alternating current form, making it usable for a home or business.

Challenges

The biggest drawback of solar energy is that solar power cannot be produced on demand. Some areas are substantially sunnier than others, and even areas that work well can pull very little energy at night or on cloudy days. Currently, no efficient way exists to move the energy to areas that receive less sunlight or to store the energy for long periods of time. Finally, most existing solar panels are only roughly 15 to 20% efficient, meaning that further scientific advance will be necessary before it becomes possible to generate enough energy to power the globe. That said, solar panels are still an incredibly smart investment for most individual residences and businesses.