Electricity and heat—two forms of energy that American households and businesses can’t do without. More and more consumers and companies are realizing that we can’t rely on fossil fuels for these necessities and must switch to renewable sources. This program investigates three main ways in which solar energy is used around the world: solar hot water, photovoltaic solar panels that generate electricity for small consumers, and thermal arrays that use sunlight to produce electricity in large commercial plants. Viewers will learn about the science involved in each type, the practical challenges of implementing them, and other developments in this exciting and growing area of the renewable energy economy. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (18 minutes)

Solar energy is heat and light from the sun. It can be used to produce electricity or to heat homes. Solar energy is a clean source of power that is unlimited.

An array of solar panels is necessary in order to run a home on solar power. Solar cells inside the panels absorb photons from the sun. A flow of electricity is created. An inverter changes the power to AC.

Solar power quickly and easily heats water for home use. Circulating water through a black hose is a good way to heat water without releasing pollutants.

Solar thermal technology is used to create electricity by using the power of the sun to heat water, which is then converted to mechanical energy. A spinning turbine can run a generator-- turning mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Conventional sources of energy for heat cannot last forever. The future of solar power relies on better solar panels and continually improving technology. Government incentives help defray solar installation costs.