50 Facts About Solar Power

Check out our interesting list of solar energy facts.

Solar Power 101

1. Solar panels capture the sun’s rays creating energy.
2. Panels use photovoltaic cells to capture electrons.
3. Photovoltaic cells are made of silicone.
4. Sunlight will reach a panel in just over eight minutes.
5. Panels need to face south in the U.S.
6. Solar power is measured in watts.
7. Panels have a capacity of 200 to 250-watts.
8. Panels generate up to ten kilowatts of power per square foot.
9. An average home uses 11,000 kilowatt-hours per year.
10. Solar power can replace other energy sources.
11. You can save excess power for cloudy days.
12. Panels don’t require direct sunlight.
13. Panels will work when the sun starts burning helium.
14. 191,000 square miles of panels would power Earth entirely.

Carbon Footprint Advantages

15. It’s the cleanest and most renewable resource available.
16. Its operation produces zero air pollution.
17. There’s also zero noise pollution.
18. Emission releasing coal isn’t involved.
19. It can reduce a home’s pollution by over 100 tons.

Cost

20. It get cheaper every year, falling 80% since 2008.
21. The average cost of solar power is about 12 cents per kilowatt.
22. Solar cells are priced per watt.
23. Installation costs are around $10,000.
24. After installation, it’s free.
25. You can rent them.
26. They usually have a 25-year warranty.
27. You can sell excess energy.
28. Some states offer financial incentives.
29. It pays for itself quickly.
30. You wouldn’t have an electric bill.
31. The panels are usually exempt from property taxes.
32. The IRS offers a tax break.

Viability

33. Solar energy will last as long as the sun does.
34. We currently produce more solar energy than we consume.
35. California produces the most solar power.
36. Las Vegas operates entirely on green energy sources.
37. Pollution is limiting solar power’s availability.
38. The first American city to go 100% green was Burlington, Vermont.
39. Over 260,000 Americans work in the solar energy field.
40. One panel is installed every 8 seconds.
41. A solar powered aircraft is being studied by NASA.
42. China uses the most solar energy in the world.
43. Arizona and California are blazing the path for solar energy.
44. 1366 watts of energy reaches every square meter of Earth.

History

45. It was discovered in 1839, by Alexandre Edmond Becquerel.
46. In 1954, Bell Laboratories produced the first photovoltaic cell.
47. In 1956, it was available publicly.
48. We saw solar powered calculators in 1978.
49. A 22.1% efficiency rate was reached by one green company in 2016.
50. Exxon Mobile is paving the way for solar energy realization.