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The amount of sunlight that strikes the earth’s surface in an hour and a half is enough to handle the entire world’s energy consumption for a full year. Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy either through photovoltaic (PV) panels or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. This energy can be used to generate electricity or be stored in batteries or thermal storage.
Below, you can find resources and information on the basics of solar radiation, photovoltaic and concentrating solar-thermal power technologies, electrical grid systems integration, and the non-hardware aspects (soft costs) of solar energy. You can also learn more about how to go solar and the solar energy industry. In addition, you can dive deeper into solar energy and learn about how the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office is driving innovative research and development in these areas. The goal of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is to accelerate the development and deployment of solar technology to support an equitable transition to a decarbonized electricity system by 2035 and decarbonized energy sector by 2050. Achieving this goal will support the nationwide effort to meet the threat of climate change and ensure that all Americans benefit from the transition to a clean energy economy. In September 2021, DOE released the Solar Futures Study, a report that explores the role of solar energy in achieving these goals.
SETO supports solar energy research, development, demonstration and technical assistance in seven areas—photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP), systems integration, manufacturing and competitiveness, soft costs, solar workforce development, and equitable access to solar energy—to improve the affordability, reliability, and domestic benefit of solar technologies on the electric grid. Learn more about SETO’s research areas.
In May 2021, SETO released its Multi-Year Program Plan, which describes the office’s activities and specific goals for 2025.
For solar technology to provide a reliable source of electricity for the national power grid, solar power plants must support power quality, stability, and cybersecurity. SETO is working to address these challenges by studying the integration of solar with energy storage, load control, and other distributed energy resources. PV and storage can work together to help the grid rapidly recover from a cyberattack or physical disruption.
Modern CSP plants can also contribute to a reliable power grid because of their built-in thermal energy storage. To help improve grid reliability, SETO aims to identify cost-effective long-duration thermal energy storage (TES) configurations for CSP plants and develop pumped TES systems having a round-trip energy efficiency greater than 50%.
Such advances, in combination with reductions in the cost of energy storage, could enable economically competitive solar to be widely deployed across the country while contributing to the reliability and resilience of the electricity grid
Residential solar is more affordable than ever, especially with the extension of the federal residential solar tax credit. Taxpayers can claim a 30% tax credit on the cost of solar systems on their income taxes. But be sure to install before January 1, 2033, when the tax credit is set to decrease to 26%.
There are also a number of different financing options to make purchasing solar systems easier and with less money upfront. The monthly amount owed on a solar loan is typically less than an average utility bill.
Solar offers great potential to save money on your monthly utility bill, and with utility bills trending upward, solar is likely to remain a good money-saving option for years to come. The amount you save depends upon how much electricity you consume, the size of your solar energy system, and how much power it is able to generate. You may also opt for a leased, third-party owned system that allows a homeowner to host a solar energy system on their rooftop and purchase back the electricity generated at a discounted rate, which is not only is often less than utilities charge customers, but also allows electricity rates to be locked in for years.
Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to combat climate change, reduce energy costs for consumers, and improve the competitiveness of U.S. businesses.