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'''Solar power''' typically refers to the production of electricity from light given off by the sun. The most common instance of this is the use of photovoltaic cells in solar panels, which have been employed on the small scale (e.g. solar powered calculators) and large scale (e.g. solar power plants, orbiting artificial satellites). Solar power is a renewable energy source, in contrast with [[fossil fuels]]. Solar power production via photovoltaic cells typically produces a less efficient conversion of energy into electricity compared to power production from the burning of fossil fuels, but with the abundance of solar rations available to Earth, this limited efficiency is normally inconsequential. The main drawback to using solar power as a principle energy source is the the inability to provide baseload power throughout the day and night: the sun cannot be guaranteed to shine every day, power is still in demand after the setting of the sun, and some areas of the world do not receive enough consistent sunlight to rely on solar power as a main energy source. Thus, solar power will, at least in the foreseeable future, not become a principle part of the world's energy production but may still be very useful in supplementing power demands in some parts of the world. Employment of small solar power arrays in areas that are rarely overcast (e.g. the American southwest) may allow some businesses to cheaply produce products and chemicals that require large electrical demand (e.g. the production of extremely pure hydrogen and oxygen from the electrolysis of water).

'''Solar power''' typically refers to the production of electricity from light given off by the sun. The most common instance of this is the use of photovoltaic cells in solar panels, which have been employed on the small scale (e.g. solar powered calculators) and large scale (e.g. solar power plants, orbiting artificial satellites). Solar power is a renewable energy source, in contrast with [[fossil fuels]]. Solar power production via photovoltaic cells typically produces a less efficient conversion of energy into electricity compared to power production from the burning of fossil fuels, but with the abundance of solar rations available to Earth, this limited efficiency is normally inconsequential. The main drawback to using solar power as a principle energy source is the inability to provide baseload power throughout the day and night: the sun cannot be guaranteed to shine every day, power is still in demand after the setting of the sun, and some areas of the world do not receive enough consistent sunlight to rely on solar power as a main energy source. Thus, solar power will, at least in the foreseeable future, not become a principle part of the world's energy production but may still be very useful in supplementing power demands in some parts of the world. Employment of small solar power arrays in areas that are rarely overcast (e.g. the American southwest) may allow some businesses to cheaply produce products and chemicals that require large electrical demand (e.g. the production of extremely pure hydrogen and oxygen from the electrolysis of water).

==Grid Parity==

==Grid Parity==

==Distributed Generation==

==Distributed Generation==

Conventional sources of power generation are concentrated in power plants that range from 100MW to 1000MW.  Distributed Generation is the grid-tied production of electricity from smaller generators typically less than 100 kw.  Solar Power is an ideal source of energy for distributed generation.  Most residential rooftops are capable of supporting at least 3 kw of solar panels while many commercial warehouses can support several MW of solar PV.  In sunny regions of the US this is adequate to provide >50% of the electricity requirements for the average US household.  One major advantage to distributed generation is that it is consumed very close to where it is produced, this decreases the stress on America's electric grid which is already operating near capacity.  Germany is an example of how effective distributed generation can be adding 7 GW of solar power in 2010 alone, this is more electricity than is produced by a nuclear power plant.  Solar power often provides >10% of electricity in Germany during the day and doubled in capacity from 2009 to 2010.

Conventional sources of power generation are concentrated in power plants that range from 100MW to 1000MW.  Distributed Generation is the grid-tied production of electricity from smaller generators typically less than 100 kW.  Solar Power is an ideal source of energy for distributed generation.  Most residential rooftops are capable of supporting at least 3 kW of solar panels while many commercial warehouses can support several MW of solar PV.  In sunny regions of the US this is adequate to provide >50% of the electricity requirements for the average US household.  One major advantage to distributed generation is that it is consumed very close to where it is produced, this decreases the stress on America's electric grid which is already operating near capacity.  Germany is an example of how effective distributed generation can be adding 7 GW of solar power in 2010 alone, this is more electricity than is produced by a nuclear power plant.  Solar power often provides >10% of electricity in Germany during the day and doubled in capacity from 2009 to 2010.

==World Wide Solar PV Increase==  {{Copyright Details (US Government)}}  

==World Wide Solar PV Increase==  {{Copyright Details (US Government)}}  

[[Liberal]]s often point to solar power as a way to "solve" global warming. This has several problems. Other than the fact that [[Counterexamples to Global Warming|the claim of global warming is dubious, to say the least]], solar power is not very efficient, giving much less energy than oil. Many liberals have tried to force solar power onto many areas, despite the fact that it would be very costly and would be much more inefficient than oil, for example.  

[[Liberal]]s often point to solar power as a way to "solve" global warming. This has several problems. Other than the fact that [[Counterexamples to Global Warming|the claim of global warming is dubious, to say the least]], solar power is not very efficient, giving much less energy than oil. Many liberals have tried to force solar power onto many areas, despite the fact that it would be very costly and would be much more inefficient than oil, for example.  

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[Photovoltaic]]s

* [[Photovoltaic]]s

* [[Solar energy]]

* [[Solar energy]]

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[[Category : Energy]]

[[Category:Energy]]