Physics & Engineering Solar Energy

Solar energy - power from the sun - is a vast and inexhaustible resource. In the broadest sense, solar energy supports all life on Earth and is the basis for almost every form of energy we use. This program explains the three primary technologies by which solar energy is commonly harnessed: photovoltaic (PV), which directly convert light to electricity; concentrating solar power (CSP), which uses heat from the sun (thermal energy) to drive utility-scale, electric turbines; and heating and cooling systems, which collect thermal energy to provide hot water and air conditioning.