Clean Energy and Sustainability Analytics Center
solar farm

Solar Energy

Solar energy is a clean energy source that is seeing spikes in popularity in the United States and abroad. The market for solar energy is growing rapidly in the United States, and the costs for acquiring this energy are decreasing, allowing more and more consumers to partake in the use of this clean energy.

How It Works

Solar technology harnesses the power of the sun, but can do so in a number of different ways. The most common solar energy technologies are photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, and community solar.

Photovoltaic
Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) are clean energy generation technologies that utilize solar radiation. Solar PV generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction using semiconducting materials. Solar PV is utilized across a wide variety of applications ranging from residential use to grid supply generation.

Concentrated solar power, also known as concentrated solar thermal, uses a series of mirrors to concentrate light and convert it to heat. This heat is used to generate electricity using a steam turbine. Concentrated solar power is used on large scales and requires specific environmental conditions to be successful.

Solar photovoltaic technology, also known as Solar PV, is one of the most widely utilized renewable energy technologies. It has become increasingly popular over the past three decades as efficiency and affordability of Solar PV equipment has improved. Additionally, federal and state incentives have promoted the adoption and accessibility of this clean energy resource. In the State of New Jersey, solar PV has been widely adopted into long term energy planning, along with other renewable energy sources such as wind and biofuel.

Learn more about photovoltaic systems on the National Renewable Energy Lab’s website.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
Though uncommon in more temperate areas of the United States and the world, concentrated solar power (CSP) plants are nevertheless a powerful and innovative technology. These plants rely on arrays of mirrors in circular or dish-shaped patterns to track the sun and reflect the incoming solar energy on a single receiver which generally contains a fluid. This creates an extreme heating effect, heating the fluid and boiling water into steam, which can move turbines similar to a conventional generator to create electricity. These plants can often be found in desert areas where the sun is extremely strong, and can produce significant amounts of electricity.

Learn more about concentrated solar power systems on the National Renewable Energy Lab’s website.

Community Solar

Community solar (or shared solar or solar gardens) is not a solar energy technology, but instead an innovation in how solar energy is distributed. Since traditional solar arrays can exclude consumers who cannot build solar arrays (due to shading, roof structure, or lack of ownership) or are unwilling to do so, community solar offers an avenue for attaining clean energy regardless. Community solar customers can buy into or lease part of a larger array to benefit from the energy. Members benefit from solar availability, potential energy bill savings, grid benefits, and greater stability for the use of clean energy.

Learn more about community solar on the National Renewable Energy Lab’s website.

Solar Energy in New Jersey

New Jersey is one of the top states in the country (5th) in terms of installed capacity and homes and businesses with solar panels installed. In 2017, New Jersey was the fifth largest producer of solar energy, and used solar to produce around 75% of its renewable energy. New Jersey has a total installed capacity of 2526.33 MW, which provides a total of just under 4% of the state’s total energy production. Solar has provided thousands of jobs for the state, and when combined with falling prices for solar energy, represents a considerable economic boon. Current legislation aims to continue the growth of solar energy as part of its new Renewable Energy Standard, which will promote continued innovations in solar technology and the implementation of community solar farms.

Learn more about the state of solar energy in New Jersey, visit the Solar Energy Industries Association’s website, and the Energy Information Administration’s website.

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