Can you just imagine? The amount of sun energy that is received by the Earth every hour can cover all the planet’s energy needs for a whole year.
#1. The Sun is the most generous energy source on our planet
Yes, that is right. If we were able to harness all the sun energy, we are getting during one hour, that solar energy would cover all the needs of the world population and industries for a year. However, it is not possible due to two reasons. The first one is natural. The thing is the oceans, seas, mountains and forests absorb a certain amount of sunlight to regulate the temperature on the planet. And the other reason is that at the moment we do not have enough solar farms around the world to catch that much of the solar energy.
Even with all those giant solar farms operating in China, the USA, Japan, Germany and India (these countries are the leaders by cumulative photovoltaic capacity as of 2019), currently only 2% of the world’s electricity consumption is being covered by the solar energy. While not being able to cover all 100% of electricity needs using only solar power, we still need to do our best to increase this percentage installing more solar farms as well as more rooftop solar panels.
#2. Solar panels are not that crazily expensive anymore
Technologies are constantly developing making our lives more and more easier. Speaking about solar panels, here technologies make them cheaper. A lot cheaper. In 1977 the cost was $77 per watt for silicon cells. Since then the price has dropped to around $0.21 per watt. We are sure it will decrease even lower which will make solar panels really affordable. Basically for every homeowner.
#3. The first solar panel was made in 1941
Well, actually it all started in 1839 when a French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect at the age of 19. To perform that experiment, he made a device that was the first photovoltaic cell ever. Sure, that cell was much different from the current ones. Becquerel used platinum electrodes covered with silver chloride.
Now solar cells are made of silicon. But the process is still the same as in 1839. When a silicon cell catches some sun light, electrons start moving and create a flow of electrical current. That is what is called the photovoltaic effect. Or also the Becquerel effect.
Shortly after that discovery, in 1941 an American engineer Russell Ohl invented and patented the first modern solar cell. Just a bit later in 1954 Bell Laboratories finished working on the first commercial solar panel.
#4. Space agencies have been using solar panels for more than 50 years before they became rooftop panels
As many other things that we find quite common nowadays, solar panels had been tested in space long before they became rooftop systems. In the late 1950s, military agencies and NASA first started using solar panels to generate power for spacecrafts and satellites. The first successful project like that was the Vanguard 1. The first satellite that was powered by solar cells – was launched by the USA in 1958.
Yes, you got it right – the satellite was powered by solar cells. Not solar panels – the device was so tiny that it could fit the palm of a human hand. It was powered by 6 solar cells generating 1 watt of energy.
The Vanguard 1 has been holding two records. The first satellite powered by sun energy and the oldest satellite ever. Even though the connection with it was lost after 6 years in space. It is the oldest artificial object that is still in the orbit.
Now the largest artificial space object powered by solar energy is the International Space Station. Amazing by itself, the ISS has unique solar panels. There are four sets of solar array wings. Each of them has two retractable sheets of solar panels. These four arrays together have 262,400 solar cells. The total area of them reaches 2,500 square meters (27,000 square ft). Each solar array’s wingspread is 73 meters (240 ft).
#5. China has been the world leader in producing solar energy and still keeps assembling new solar farms
China’s unique natural conditions (vast desert areas) are perfect for installing solar farms. Moreover, the country is using these advantages now. China generated 207,700 MW which is 32.6% of the total world solar energy production in 2019.
The second place by the solar energy generated in 2019 was taken by the USA – 75,900 MW (12.1% of the total). Japan was on the third place – 63,000 MW (10%)/ Here it is obvious that even for the closest to China competitors it is not possible to get ahead of China any time soon.
#6. Solar plants are the easiest to deploy
Solar panels are extremely easy to install and deploy which is one of the greatest advantages of this technology. For example, after the 2019 hurricane in Puerto Rico and that great damage it brought, some solar companies were able to construct and launch small solar plants on the island within just a few weeks. No other renewable energy plants can be launched in such short terms.
#7. Sun energy can power not only cars, trains and space stations but also planes
In March 2015, a Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard together with his colleague Andre Borschberg started the first flight around the world on a plane powered only by solar energy. They departed from Abu Dhabi on their airplane Solar Impulse II. The pilots arrived back to the starting point in July 2016. The plane had only one seat for the pilot. So they shared the journey taking different legs of the flight. That flight has made it clear. There are no limitations where sun energy can be used.