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*Production of mechanical energy, for example by a [[heat engine]] | *Production of mechanical energy, for example by a [[heat engine]] | ||
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Revision as of 19:57, 12 November 2009
Solar power refers to useful energy extracted from sunlight.
Solar power is generally considered to be "Green", renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.
Some forms of solar power such as heating are well-adapted to low-technology appropriate construction, while others such as photovoltaic cells for the production of electricity are typically mass-produced in high-tech capital-intensive factories.
Some forms of solar power include
- Production of electricity, typically by solar photovoltaic panels
- Solar heating; may be active or passive ; used for indoor environmental heating and heating water
- Production of mechanical energy, for example by a heat engine
See also
For more specific articles on solar power, see Category:Solar.
Achieving economies of scale
There is a need to increase demand for photovoltaics such that they can compete with conventional electricity production methods. One innovative idea is to harness the green purchasing power of academic institutions. This has been shown to be potentially quite influential in catalyzing a positive spiral-effect in renewables globally[1].
References
- ↑ Joshua M. Pearce, “Catalyzing Mass Production of Solar Photovoltaic Cells Using University Driven Green Purchasing”, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 7(4), pp. 425 – 436, 2006.