What is Solar Energy?
Sunlight is a renewable energy source which can be converted into usable energy by solar panels. There are two main types of solar energy. Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels directly convert solar energy into a usable form of energy using a PV cell containing a semiconductor material. CSP (concentrating solar power) on the other hand, concentrate energy from sunlight to a heat receiver which transforms energy from heat into mechanical energy, and in turn, solar thermal electricity.

Converting Sunlight into Electricity
Light striking a silicon semiconductor causes electrons to flow, creating electricity. Solar power generating systems take advantage of this property to convert sunlight directly into electrical energy.
Solar panels (also called “solar modulesE produce direct current (DC), which goes through a power inverter to become alternating current (AC) — electricity that we can use in the home or office, like that supplied by a utility power company.

There are two types of solar power generating systems: grid-connected systems, which are connected to the commercial power infrastructure; and stand-alone systems, which feed electricity to a facility for immediate use, or to a battery for storage.

Grid-connected systems are used for homes, public facilities such as schools and hospitals, and commercial facilities such as offices and shopping centers. Electricity generated during the daytime can be used right away, and in some cases surplus electricity can be sold to the utility power company. If the system doesn’t generate enough electricity, or generates none at all (for example, on a cloudy or rainy day, or at night) electricity is purchased from the utility power company. Power production levels and surplus selling can be checked in real time on a monitor, an effective way to gauge daily energy consumption.

Stand-alone systems are used in a variety of applications, including emergency power supply and remote power where traditional

Process of converting Solar Energy to Electricity

When sunlight hits the semiconductor, an electron springs up and is attracted to the n-type semiconductor. This causes more negative electrons in the n-type semiconductor and more positive electrons in the p-type, thus generating a flow of electricity in a process known as the “photovoltaic effect.
Advantages of Solar Power * Solar energy is a clean and renewable energy source. * Once a solar panel is installed, solar energy can be produced free of charge. * Solar energy will last forever whereas it is estimated that the world’s oil reserves will last for 30 to 40 years. * Solar energy causes no pollution. * Solar cells make absolutely no noise at all. On the other hand, the giant machines utilized for pumping oil are extremely noisy and therefore very impractical. * Very little maintenance is needed to keep solar cells running. There are no moving parts in a solar cell which makes it impossible to really damage them. * In the long term, there can be a high return on investment due to the amount of free energy a solar panel can produce, it is estimated that the average household will see 50% of their energy coming in from solar panels.

Disadvantages of Solar Power * Solar panels can be expensive to install resulting in a time-lag of many years for savings on energy bills to match initial investments. * Electricity generation depends entirely on a countries exposure to sunlight; this could be limited by a countries climate. * Solar power stations do not match the power output of similar sized conventional power stations; they can also be very expensive to build. * Solar power is used to charge batteries so that solar powered devices can be used at night. The batteries can often be large and heavy, taking up space and needing to be replaced from time to time.

Top 5 World’s Largest Solar Power Plant in the World
5.

Name | Catalina Solar Project | Location | California, USA | Annual Output | 204GWh | Interesting Facts | 1. California's Mojave Desert has some of the highest solar insolation levelsin North America, as well as energy hungry metropolitan areas of Southern California close by 2. Jointly owned by EDF Renewable Energyand financial services company TIAA-CREF 3. Power about 35,000 homes and will offset about 74,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions - the latter being very important in meeting California's tough emission standards |

4.

Name | Huanghe Hydropower Golmud Solar Park | Location | Qinghai, China | Annual Output | 317GWh | Interesting Facts | 1. A pure PV plant developed by Yingli Solar and managed by Huanghe Hydropower |

3.

Name | California Valley Solar Ranch | Location | California, USA | Annual Output | 399GWh | Interesting Facts | 1. The California Solar Ranch is located 270 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles and covers 1,966 acres of former grazing land 2. Plant owned by NRG Energy and developed by SunPower 3. Sunpower provided 88,000 tracking modules that pivot the panels - allowing them to absorb the maximum amount of rays all through the day 4. Power roughly 100,000 homes, which means 5% of LA homes are potentially powered by solar |

2.

Name | Mesquite Solar Project | Location | Arizona, USA | Annual Output | 413GWh | Interesting Facts | 1. With over 300 days of sunshine, The Mesquite Solar Project is well situated, 100 kilometers outside the major metropolitan area of Phoenix (Pop. 1.5 million) 2. Has the potential to power 260,000 homes 3. Plant run by US power company, Sempra Energy, with 800,000 panels supplied by Chinese manufacturer Suntech Power |

1.

Name | Agua Caliente Solar Project | Location | Arizona, USA | Annual Output | 626GWh | Interesting Facts | 1. Located in the desert about 160 kilometers southwest of Phoenix 2. Plant was just completed in April, 2014 3. The panels are thin film cells manufactured by First Solarthat are cheaper on a per watt basis than those manufactured from crystalline silicon 4. Does not use a tracking module to point the panels at the sun – which is another way to save cost |

List of Solar Power Plant in the Philippines Station | Capacity (MW) | Commissioned | Community | Coordinates | Status | Badoc-Vintar Photovoltaic Power Plant | 20 | | Badoc and Vintar, Ilocos Norte | | Approved | CEPALCO Cagayan de Oro Photovoltaic Power Plant | 1.1 | 2012 | Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental | | Operational | Ormoc Photovoltaic Power Plant | 40 | | Ormoc, Leyte | | Approved | SaCaSol I | 22 | 2014 | San Carlos City, Negros Occidental | | Operational | SaCaSol II | 18 | | La Carlota, Negros Occidental | | Under-construction | Surallah Photovoltaic Power Plant | 5 | | Surallah, South Cotabato | | Under-construction |