Solar lights are a very common and highly versatile solution for providing free outdoor lighting, particularly during summer and lighter parts of the year, but also potentially throughout the winter. They are typically low-cost, require virtually zero maintenance and are free to operate. In addition, they provide attractive aesthetic benefits as well as serving highly functional purposes, doing so at …

While solar PV systems are rightly recognized as a major driver for the solar energy movement and the growth of green energy overall, solar water heater systems also have a significant role to play. On average, hot water consumes 18% of a typical family energy bill, and solar water heaters are an excellent means of meeting this demand, via clean, …

As more and more businesses and public sector organizations embrace the opportunity and requirement for leveraging renewable energy, an increasing number of them are turning to solar power solutions. As good as rooftop solar system installations are, they can only generate so much energy, so the question is how to extend that capability. Mounting traditional solar panels on the sides …

As with any significant purchase, there is a vital distinction to be made, between headline ‘price’, and actual ‘cost’, once the broader considerations are taken into account. This article focuses on solar panel cost from a holistic perspective, as the significant investment that a solar energy system represents. In examining the purchase and investment from this viewpoint, several key factors …

A solar charger was once something only conceivable for use by NASA. Nowadays, they are literally everywhere, as an indispensable accessory for modern living in our ‘always connected’ age. A solar charger can literally make the vital difference between being connected and being cut off when a mobile phone runs out of battery power. Fortunately, the cost and wide variety …

Although solar panels are the visible parts of solar energy systems and receive by far the most attention, the humble solar battery is poised to play an equally prominent role in the solar power world. Because solar batteries maximize the use of the power generated by solar systems, they have a pronounced effect on bringing down electricity bills and reducing …

From early applications in space exploration, to solar calculators to modern solar power generation, photovoltaic (PV) solar energy has become a significant contributor to the clean energy mix globally. This limitless form of renewable energy is growing rapidly and now extends well beyond meeting the fundamental need for our growing appetite for low-cost electricity. Photovoltaic /PV solar energy is increasingly …

CSP is a powerful and exciting technology for large-scale solar power generation. Although it has been in use since the 1980’s, it is still seen as somewhat new and emerging, with innovation and efficiency improvements under active development. The total power generated by CSP is small compared to Photovoltaic (PV) solar power, but there is significant scope for the amount …

Canadian solar energy has achieved a 13.8 compound annual growth rate since 2004, to reach a total installed capacity of nearly 3,000 Megawatts, and is poised for significant growth over the coming years. As a signatory to the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Canadian federal government’s release in December 2016 of its Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate …

Photovoltaic cells (also known as PV cells) are small light-sensitive electronic devices that produce electrical current when exposed to sunlight. When grouped together in solar panels, and groups of solar panels, they form the basis for the most powerful form of renewable energy on the planet. Since the world has a growing appetite for electricity, especially in this digital age, …