Solar power by country
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Many countries and territories have installed significant solar power capacity into their electrical grids to supplement or provide an alternative to conventional energy sources.
Solar power plants use one of two technologies:Photovoltaic (PV) systems use solar panels, either on rooftops or in ground-mounted solar farms, converting sunlight directly into electric power.
Concentrated solar power plants use solar thermal energy to make steam, that is thereafter converted into electricity by a turbine.
Image: Bed ZED 2007
Image: CIS Tower
Image: Solar panels on a 1930s semi on Barleyfields Road, Wetherby (31st May 2013)
The Negev Desert is home to the Israeli solar research industry, in particular the National Solar Energy Center and the Arava Valley, which is the sunniest area of Israel.
Photovoltaics
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Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and electrochemistry. The photovoltaic effect is commercially used for electricity generation and as photosensors.
The Solar Settlement, a sustainable housing community project in Freiburg, Germany
Charging station in France that provides energy for electric cars using solar energy
Solar panels on the International Space Station
This chart illustrates the effect of clouds on solar energy production.