Technologies: Solar
Photovoltaic (PV) devices produce electricity directly from sunlight through an electronic process which happens naturally
in certain types of material, so-called semiconductors. Electrons in semiconductors are freed by solar energy and can be
induced to go through an electrical circuit, powering up the electrical devices or sending electricity to the main grid. As of
the end of 2015, USA has 25 gigawatts (GW) of installed photovoltaic capacity with an additional 1.8 GW of concentrated
solar power. USA is among the top countries in the world in electricity generated by solar energy and several of the
world’s largest utility-scale installations are located in the desert Southwest. As an example, the oldest solar power plant
in the world is the 354-megawatt (MW) thermal power plant, in California. The solar energy can be employed in different
forms either electrical or thermal. By developing hybrid model for solar panels, the efficiency of these devices is improved
and their useful life is enhanced.