Solar Summary - Part 1
Solar Summary - Part 2
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Solar Summary
Solar Summary - Part 1
Solar power is an intermittent renewable power source currently dominated by solar PV.
- Global solar energy has a high degree of regional, seasonal and daily variability.
- Solar Photovoltaic (PV) remains the most common way electricity is produced from the sun. Installed global solar capacity was approximately 900GW in 2021 - dominated by solar PV at 892GW, up from 741 in 2020.
- Of the three concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) technology classes - parabolic troughs are the most mature.
- There are few environmental challenges that face solar technology, and those it faces can mostly be successfully mitigated with good planning and community engagement.
Solar Summary
Solar Summary - Part 2
The solar collection system for both thermal and photovoltaic systems is the major cost component.
- The solar thermal parabolic trough can focus the sun at 30 to 60 times - making working fluid temperatures as high as 400ºC possible.
- Solar PV cells are modular semiconductor cells that directly convert sunlight into electricity.
- The solar collection system for both thermal and photovoltaic systems is the major cost component. While solar PV continue to see significant cost reductions - solar thermal technologies cost reductions have made less progress.
- While solar power's contribution to the overall generation mix is increasing from a small base - it is rapidly closing in on wind power in terms of contribution.