Photovoltaics
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September 20, 2005
Bakersfield, CA
October 6-9, 2005
Washington, DC
October 7-16, 2005
Washington, DC
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Solar technologies use
the sun's energy to provide heat, light, hot water, electricity,
and even cooling, for homes, businesses, and industry. Learn
more about solar energy technologies such as photovoltaic
(solar cell) systems, concentrating solar systems, passive solar
heating and daylighting, solar hot water, and solar process heat
and space cooling.
Photovoltaic Research
NREL performs fundamental research in PV-related materials;
develops PV cells in several material systems; characterizes and
improves performance and reliability of PV cells, modules and
systems; assists industry with standardized tests and
performance models for PV devices; and helps the PV industry
accelerate manufacturing capacity and commercialization of
various PV technologies.
Solar Thermal Research
Concentrating Solar
Power — NREL plays a leadership role in analyzing cost
and performance of solar systems, developing parabolic trough
technology for solar electricity generation, and developing
advanced technologies such as concentrating photovoltaics.
Researchers support the development of new designs and
manufacturing processes for solar components and systems with an
emphasis on improved performance, reliability and service life.
Solar Heating — NREL is working with the solar
industry to lower the cost of solar water heating systems.
Laboratory researchers provide assistance with prototype
development of new polymer (plastic) systems through modeling
and optimization, characterization of the systems' performance,
and accelerated materials durability testing.
Solar Radiation Research
Optimal siting of renewable energy systems requires
knowledge of the resource characteristics at any given location.
Solar radiation research and data collection is performed at NREL's
Solar Radiation Research Laboratory. This unique research
facility continually measures solar radiation and other
meteorological data and disseminates the information to
government, industry, academia, and international laboratories
and agencies. These data are used for climate change studies,
atmospheric research, renewable energy conversion system
testing, and more.
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NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy,
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy,
operated by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle
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August 30, 2005
August 24, 2005
August 24, 2005
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October 6-9, 2005
October 6-16, 2005
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CSP systems use reflective materials that concentrate the sun's
heat energy to drive a generator that produces electricity.
PV systems use semiconductor materials that convert sunlight
directly to electricity.
Solar collectors absorb the sun's energy to provide
low-temperature heat used directly for hot water or space
heating for residential or commercial buildings.
Parabolic collectors focus sunlight into a fiber optic system to
illuminate building interiors with sunlight.
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Welcome to the Web site for the Solar Energy Technologies
program, one of 11 programs within the U.S. Department of
Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. We
focus on developing solar energy technologies to power our
world. We are motivated by a belief that science and technology,
guided by purpose and vision, can deliver new energy resources
that are clean, reliable, and secure.
The sun is the primary source for most forms of energy found
on Earth. Solar energy is clean, abundant, widespread, and
renewable. Various technologies capture this solar energy,
concentrate it, store it, and convert it into other useful forms
of energy:
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Low-grade thermal energy for heating our homes and
businesses
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Medium-grade thermal energy for running some industrial
processes
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High-grade thermal energy for driving turbines to
generate electricity
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Electrical energy, converted directly from sunlight, to
provide electricity for all of its myriad applications and
even
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Chemical energy in hydrogen (via water splitting using
photovoltaic or thermochemical processes to split water),
for use in fuel cells and a broad range of electrical,
heating, and transportation applications.
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Solar energy technologies have great potential to benefit
our nation. They can diversify our energy supply, reduce our
dependence on imported fuels, improve the quality of the air we
breathe, offset greenhouse gas emissions, and stimulate our
economy by creating jobs in the manufacturing and installation
of solar energy systems.
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