subject: Ten Facts on Solar Power [print this page] Ten Facts on Solar Power Ten Facts on Solar Power
Solar power was mainly used for powering small electrical devices. But now, with the great technological advancements, people are hoping that solar power will soon become widely accessible even to ordinary individuals. In the UK and the US, solar power is used in the different states but it it's not that prevalent yet despite the large savings to the household electricity bill that can be achieved.
Here are 10 little known facts that might interest you:
1.Albert Einstein received a Nobel Prize in 1921 for his experiments on photovoltaic and solar power.
2.Silicon from a ton of sand can be used in photovoltaic panels to generate the same amount of electricity that a 500,000 T of burning coals can produce.
3.10,000 US households are now using solar energy to power their homes.
4.John Herschel (British Astronomer) was able to cook food by using solar power 200 years ago during his African journey.
5.In 1982, the first large scale power plant was opened in California.
6.If you can use solar power in your home's heating system, you can slash the electric bill by as much as 50%.
7.In the last thirty years, the price of solar panels has dropped considerably by at least 200%. Solar power kits can now be purchased from $200-$500.
8.In the year 2000, USDOE claimed that solar power is almost perfect (99%) in San Francisco; since California gets a lot of sunlight, 200 megawatts of green electricity can be generated if all the rooftops of county buildings and homes are covered with PV panels. By including school buildings, an added 1,500 megawatts is achievable. The generated power is enough to cover the city's electrical needs during an entire day.
9.Germany is now using solar power despite its undesirable climate. The energy generated during sunny days is stored in batteries.
10.Energy from the sun travels for approximately 8 minutes to reach Earth.
Solar power is free and clean. After your initial investment, you no longer have to pay for the energy.
So, if you feel like you would like to know more about solar panels and you live the UK why not visit Solar Panels Birminghamto find out more.
