Solar is the world’s most used energy resource. Solar energy deployment has been growing over the last decade, 40% annually. New solar insulations include solar photovoltaic (PC) electric power, thermal megawatts (MWTh) of solar water heating, pool heating, and solar space heating and cooling. By 2025 its estimated that solar energy will contribute to 10% of the country’s energy demand. Future advances will be more “plug and play” technology that will straightforward, easy to assemble, and plug directly into the power grid.

The world’s largest and oldest power plant is in California. The US is the highest producer of solar power, producing more than half of all solar thermal power in the world. There are power plants under construction with many more proposed.

Resource links

NY Solar Energy Industries Association

Solar Training and Courses

Penn State Solar Decathlon

Cornell University Solar Decathlon 2005

SolarCity (affordability option: lease instead of buy)

NYSERDA Home Performance w Energy Star Program

DSIRE: Incentives/ Policies for Renewables and Efficiency

Astrum Solar Calculator

US Solar Energy Technology Program

American Solar Energy Society

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Solar Energy Industries Associations

Maps

PV solar Radiation.jpg 

Photovoltaic Solar Resource of the US

Concentrating Solar Resource of the US

News links

A Lease on Solar Panels? Some States Pitch In

Solar-powered trash can reduces carbon footprint, cuts costs

New Solar-powered Trash Cans Line the Streets of Philadelphia

The Solar Energy Technology Program of the USDOE

Solar Lily Pads Deliver Green Energy to Glasgow, Scotland