Our first article will give you some basics of solar power. We discuss some facts, the industries involved in solar power, and other helpful info. While out site has some excellent info on solar power, there are many more resources online that delve deeper into the details. We found this website an excellent source on renewable energy, with specifics on solar power.
Solar power is produced by using a solar panel to collect sunlight which is then converted into electricity. Solar panels are large flat panels which are composed of photovoltaic cells. The photovoltaic cell is responsible for converting the collected sunlight into electricity.
Solar power is not collected when the sun is not out, but the past energy collected, when the sun was out, is stored in batteries or passed directly to your electric companies electric grid.
Usage of solar power in the US has increased rapidly for the past years. The solar power industry has a booming stable growth in the United States for more than a decade. In 2015, the United States is the fourth largest solar power users globally. The United States ranks after China, Germany, and Japan.
Statistically speaking, usage of solar powers in the residential areas of the United States are in demand. Approximately 209,000 Americans worked in the solar industries and it is expected that by 2021, it will grow to 360,000. In 2006, 30,000 homes have rooftop solar installed and in 2013 it reached up to 400,000.
One of the main reasons why there is a sudden increase in using solar power as an energy source for some Americans is because the cost of the solar dropped for about 62% for the last five years. In 2006, the price per watt of electricity from solar panels is $9. Currently, the price per watt dropped down to $3.79.
A 2016 Solar Market Update states there are nearly 36 GW of solar power installed. It can already give power to 6.5 million American houses. Every 84 seconds, a new solar panel is being installed in the United States. In 2015, the approximate percentage of new electricity generated from the solar power in the United States is 30%.
There are different US solar companies that offer top-notch services. One of them is the Verengo Solar. This solar company is focused on installing solar power on the residential market. They already established 12,000 solar power units in different residences. They will even pay you if you refer somebody to use their service from $50 to $350. The next on the list is the SolarCity. The SolarCity also gives more focus on the residential market.
The only difference is they have is their own manufacturing division. Lastly is the SunPower. SunPower is a globally renowned solar company. They are already considered as a veteran in manufacturing and installing solar equipment because their services started way back in 1985. They focus both on residential and commercial markets. Their services are available worldwide.
It is difficult to give the exact amount or the estimate on how much the solar panel costs. There are different factors that are needed to consider when calculating the exact amount of a solar panel. The system size of a solar panel, in what US state you are residing, and the type of panel you want to use can be one of those factors.
Using solar energy to use as electricity is a real game changer. It is efficient, reusable, and pollution free. Moreover, solar installations may be expensive, but the benefit of it will save you from paying too much in electric bills for the next four to five years, or longer. It is expected at the year 2020, there will be 1 million Americans who will decide to use the solar power in their homes. As the cost of solar installations drops each year, it’s inevitable that the era of using solar power as a default source of electricity will soon happen.