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Solar Power Products Have Come A Long Way
Back during the energy crisis of the 1970s, solar power products were rather large, inefficient creations that really didn’t do a whole lot for spreading the popularity of this form of sustainable energy.
Although the crisis came and went, the focus on solar development did not. Thanks to decades’ worth of diligence in research, solar power products today are smaller, more efficient and even portable by design.
Anyone who scans the market for solar power products today will find a number of designs in use and more under development. Some of the types of products available for use now include:
• Portable solar power products – These self-contained systems are designed for the ultimate in portability. They can be small enough by make to be worn on a wrist or carried in a backpack. Hikers and campers, for example, will find a variety of portable solar devices for their use. Items in this classification range from solar watches and flashlights to radios and even cellular telephone charges.
• Solar power kits – Although these might not be the model of efficiency, this solar product can demonstrate the feasibility of solar power very well. Small kits are capable of generating enough energy to operate minor household appliances, such as electrical tools and toasters.
• Outdoor appliance products – Solar power products extend to self-contained systems for use outside homes. These devices include solar driven lights, surveillance cameras, water fountains and so on.
• Home solar arrays – Home-based solar power products for providing larger amounts of energy have come a very long way.
Although these systems do still depend a lot on costly silicon for the solar panels, they can produce the power homeowners need. Depending on the actual energy requirements, homeowners can offset certain systems in their homes or even go off the electrical grid entirely.
How much or little power a homeowner can enjoy thanks to more modernized technology will depend on the system design, the amount of available sunlight and the size of the solar collection system, the efficiency of the inverter and so on.
As far as solar power products have come, research continues to make this type of sustainable energy collection even more efficient.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, have been working on solar dish technology for taking buildings off the electrical grid. Larger dishes are already in use, helping augment the electrical supply within areas of the American Southwest.
Researchers are also working to improve the design of solar panels to rely on less costly semiconductor materials. This would make solar energy systems more attainable by the masses.
Solar power products have taken great leaps forward in the last few decades. This sustainable form of energy is now relied upon to power everything from small wrist watches to entire homes.
Solar Power Specific links
Solar Power News
Solar panel prices likely to rise - Albany Times Union
 Wall Street Journal | Solar panel prices likely to rise Albany Times Union By Brian Nearing In this photo taken Wednesday March 21, 2012, Chinese workers examine solar panels at a manufacturer of photovoltaic products in Huaibei in central China's Anhui province. China's government on Friday, May 18, 2012, rejected a US ... US-China trade tensions worsen amid solar energy row China Warns Solar-Panel Tariff May Backfire Stiff tariffs in works on China solar panels |
Counting Down to Eclipse Live from FUJIYAMA by Panasonic's Solar Power - MarketWatch (press release)
 Mother Nature Network | Counting Down to Eclipse Live from FUJIYAMA by Panasonic's Solar Power MarketWatch (press release) And better yet to give this challenge an ironic twist, the electricity used by the equipment for the live filming will only be powered with electricity generated by the sun using Panasonic's HIT solar panels. Currently, the base camp is being set up at ... Japan readies for 'ring' solar eclipse |
Dominion Power rate pitch encourages solar power - Virginia Gazette
 PV-Tech | Dominion Power rate pitch encourages solar power Virginia Gazette RICHMOND -- Dominion Virginia Power took a second step today to add more of the sun's energy to its electricity grid by proposing a new rate that includes a premium to encourage customers to install solar panels and sell the electricity to the company. Dominion proposes premium for solar power Virginia Utility Proposes New Solar Energy Program For Residential Customers Dominion Va. proposing solar-power incentive |
Wildomar Students Entering Solar Powered Boat Race - Patch.com
 Triple Pundit | Wildomar Students Entering Solar Powered Boat Race Patch.com By Mirna Alfonso On the second day of the Solar Cup competition, students must use solar power they stored from the day before to sprint across Lake Skinner. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Elsinore High School in Wildomar will ... Solar Thermal: Pros and Cons – Part 1: Solar Heating and Cooling |
Solar Energy Securitization on the Horizon as Industry Players Look for New ... - CleanTechnica
 Blue & Green Tomorrow | Solar Energy Securitization on the Horizon as Industry Players Look for New ... CleanTechnica The recent US residential housing and mortgage market collapse gave securitization a bad name, but the practice of aggregating and dicing up residential solar PV system leases and commercial solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) is bound to play a ... Here comes the sun: Solar catching on in Illinois, too First Solar Plans Middle East Office to Help Tap Regional Market Suffolk surges on in large solar development race |