Solar power is the conversion process of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics convert light into electric current using the photoelectric effect.
There is a lot of information about solar power out there in both books and the internet. I have collected a few facts to help you make your own mind up about solar power and whether you feel you should be converting to using it.
So below is a list of true facts about solar power:

The sun is the source of all solar power and the earth receives about 1,366 watts of direct solar radiation per square meter from the sun. The sun is is 109 times bigger than the Earth and is about 150 million km from the Earth and is aged about 4.5 billion years. The suns average surface temperature is 5700 C. The Earths average temperature is 20 C.

Earth receives around 51% of the Sun’s solar energy. The rest is either absorbed by clouds and the atmosphere or radiated back into space.

Solar radiation reaches a unit of space near the Earths orbit at a rate of 1,366 W/m (Watt per square metre), as measured upon a surface normal (at a right angle) to the Sun. This number is the “solar constant”. Of this energy, about 19% is absorbed by the atmosphere, and clouds reflect a further 35% of the total solar energy. Therefore solar energy received a sea level is much less. Its peak power is generally accepted to be 1,020 W/m.

The energy output of a 1 KW solar energy unit is roughly equivalent to the burning of 170 pounds of coal and 300 pounds of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.

Solar energy is not available at night, making energy storage an important issue in order to provide the continuous availability of energy

The human ecological footprint is massive. In some countries bigger than in others. There are around 2 billion world citizens without any electricity at all. To them the facts about solar energy are that they cannot flick a switch to bring it on and are often steeped in poverty.

By contrast America accounts for over a quarter of world energy consumption with only 5% of the global population.

While Japan used to account for some 50% of total solar demand globally, Europe accounted for 82% of world demand in 2008. Spain’s 285% growth pushed Germany into second place in the market ranking, while the US advanced to number three. Rapid growth in Korea allowed it to become the fourth largest market, followed by Italy and Japan.

In the UK we receive sufficient sunshine to provide up to 70% of our annual domestic hot water. The average UK household uses the equivalent of 3000kW hours of power per year to heat water. The UK could collect up to 1300 kW hours per square metre of solar panel per year.

Solar energy is better for the environment than traditional forms of energy because it does not create green house gases resulting from the burning of fossil fuels to generate energy

A major solar energy industry report from 2009 indicated that there are four primary barriers to solar adoption: cost, complexity, misinformation, and inertia.

Leonardo Da Vinci first planned the use of industrial solar power by employing concave mirrors to heat water during his years working at the Vatican. Most of Da Vinci’s incredible inventions, including a helicopter, tank and calculator, were not built during his lifetime.

A world record was set in 1990 when a an aircraft flew 4060km across the United States of America with solar power and no other fuel. The trip did however require 20 stops along the way and took 121 flying hours.

Solar energy certainly seems to be a practical possibility even in the UK. By using a solar power system we could reduce harmful emissions by up to 500 kg per square metre of panel per year. Solar power is free energy waiting to be collected and used all year round. So go get yourself some Solar panels now and start saving money and the planet.
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Once the solar panels are manufactured and installed, they will not emit any additional harmful by-products.

Another reason many people have decided to switch to solar power is because it provides free energy after the initial investment. With most other forms of energy, ongoing bills are imminent. Other than their home and car, paying for energy is one of the most significant costs people incur each month. Energy prices also fluctuate, which can make it difficult to predict how much you are going to owe at the end of the month. With solar power, you don’t have to worry about making monthly payments. You will have a source of energy that will not dent your bank account each month.

While there is no ongoing cost associated with solar power, it does have a high upfront cost. During initial setup of the system, you have to pay for solar panels to be installed. The panels and associated labour can easily cost you several thousand dollars. This high upfront cost is the primary barrier for many people who are considering solar power for their home. Because this upfront cost is quite significant, it will take time for your investment to pay off and for you to start benefiting from a free supply of energy.

Reliability can also be an issue with a solar energy system, reason being that sunlight is required for solar panels to produce energy. Modern solar panels are more effective at producing energy in very low light situations, but it’s still an issue you need to be aware of before making the switch. When speaking with a solar power provider or relevant electrician, be sure to inquire about their panels’ low light efficiency.

Even after initial setup, solar power is not completely without its costs. The ongoing production of solar energy might be free, but maintenance of the overall system may be required down the line.

Although there is no denying that there are some potential downsides to solar power, the majority of people who make the switch are extremely happy with their choice. Whether it is right for your home will depend on your own individual circumstances.

Solar energy today is of great importance to people. It provides an alternative source of energy aside from fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Every day, more and more people set up their own solar panel systems at home. Having one nowadays is beginning to be the current trend.

Knowing solar energy pros and cons will, with a lot of help, let you decide when and if you would want to set up one at home. They say that using this kind of energy is the answer to our future energy supply. You might ask why there are those that still rely on power from power companies. Well, as good as it may seem, there are still the pros and cons regarding this.

What is the best thing about this type of energy? It’s free! Among the advantages of solar energy is that it is renewable. There is an abundant supply of energy from the sun waiting to be utilized by humans. It costs lower than other alternative sources. Aside from that, it reduces the risk of pollution wherein from past years, usage of fossil fuels has increased pollution in the planet.